UC San Diego Participates in US Department of Energy-Funded AI-Driven Geothermal Energy Project
The MAESTRO project, funded by the US Department of Energy and utilizing artificial intelligence technologies, aims to discover safe and economical geothermal energy sources.
UC San Diego is participating in the US Department of Energy-funded MAESTRO project, contributing to the safe and economical discovery of subsurface geothermal resources through artificial intelligence.
Purpose and Scope of the MAESTRO Project
The MAESTRO project aims to transform sustainable energy production by leveraging artificial intelligence technologies to enhance US energy independence and security.
Within the scope of the project, underground heat will be evaluated to spin turbines and generate electricity using state-of-the-art artificial intelligence tools.
Participating Universities and Laboratories
The initiative brings together universities such as UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz, and UC Berkeley.
Additionally, four national laboratories—Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore, Lawrence Berkeley, and Pacific Northwest—along with three private sector partners are involved in the project.
Roles of UC San Diego Researchers
Lianhui Qin, an assistant professor in computer science, will lead the development of MAESTRO's AI agent framework.
Ilkay Altintas, director of the San Diego Supercomputer Center, will manage the project's data management and agentic AI service ecosystem.
Open-Source Sharing and Future Goals
The MAESTRO project will operate as an open-source initiative, sharing its digital resources with academic researchers, government policymakers, and the general public.