This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) provides $299,999 to Northwestern University to investigate the performance and impacts of using geothermal structures as thermal batteries for energy storage. The project aims to develop experimental and theoretical knowledge through full-scale field experiments, computational analyses, and community surveys. The research will focus on characterizing the heat transfer, mass transfer, and deformation of geothermal structures used for thermal storage, as well as assessing the impacts on living, economic, and environmental conditions in both underserved and advantaged communities. The project also includes educational, professional training, community engagement, and outreach activities to promote the opportunities associated with carbon-neutrality and the clean energy transition. This early-concept grant is part of the NSF-wide Clean Energy Technology Initiative and seeks to advance knowledge that could enable the widespread deployment of renewable energy storage technologies.