EU Project GeoHEAT Increases Success Rates of Deep Geothermal Energy Projects
»Deep geothermal energy can be a key building block in the energy and heat transition as a CO2-free heat supply«, illustrated Prof. Erik Saenger, who does research at Fraunhofer IEG and works for Bochum University of Applied Science. »In Germany alone, for example, a quarter of industrial process heat requirements could be covered by geothermal energy.« However, risks such as the probability of finding geothermal resources, potential induced seismicity, environmental risks, or lack of social acceptance deter investors. The EU project »GeoHEAT - Georadar-aided High-resolution Exploration to Advance deep geothermal energy usage«, led by Fraunhofer IEG, addresses this gap.
GeoHEAT brings together and develops advanced scientific technologies and models in an interdisciplinary approach to improve geothermal exploration. The participating institutes and companies aim to reduce the costs of preliminary investigations of potential reservoirs and to simplify the process. At the same time, the project seeks to enhance the quality of information gathered during the drilling process, thereby supporting both economic success and social acceptance.
More Information Before and During the Drilling Process
With GeoHEAT, researchers aim to transform the workflow of geothermal explorations: By developing new innovative passive seismic methods and integrating the resulting measurement data with gravity surveys, the project partners intend to represent deeper structures in the future. They will incorporate the data into a probabilistic geological model that integrates geophysical and conceptual models of the subsurface. By linking a multitude of data and modeling efforts, many potential reservoirs could be assessed simultaneously and cost-effectively prior to any drilling.
The drilling process also generates information that can provide further insights into the subsurface. The researchers plan to evaluate the cores extracted from the drilling as well as rock cuttings that are flushed out during the drilling process. Numerical analysis of digital rock physics twins aims to assess rock properties for every meter drilled. The experts also intend to exploit the subsurface's response to seismicity induced by the drilling. Particular attention will be paid to the further development of a novel georadar probe: Adapted to the pressure and heat at great depths, this probe should represent the subsurface up to 100 meters from the borehole wall. This information will allow for informed directional drilling, optimal borehole placement, and precise performance and success of the drilling.
4.2 Million Euros Funding Volume
The project "GeoHEAT - Georadar-aided High-resolution Exploration to Advance deep geothermal energy usage" has started in June 2024 for a total of 48 months. It is funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe Framework Program with 4.2 million euros. Additional funding comes from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation. Project partners include research institutions such as ETH Zurich, Delft University of Technology, RWTH Aachen University, University of Pisa, University of Geneva, and Fraunhofer IEG as well as companies like Guideline Geo, Bo-Ra-tec GmbH, Advanced Logic Technology, Seismix s.r.l., Mignan Risk Analytics GmbH.
Geothermal Energy and Risks
Examples for successful deep geothermal projects can be found in Munich, Paris or Tuscany: Munich's municipal utilities operate six geothermal plants in the region, including Germany's largest geothermal plant in Sendling. In Sendling, the municipal utilities extract hot water from a depth of 2,000 to 3,000 meters. In the Paris basin, there are currently 37 geothermal plants in operation. The oldest plant of them was built in 1969. Another significant number of geothermal plants were built by the French in the 1980s. Typically, a plant supplies heat to around 4,000 to 5,000 residential units. In Italy, first usage of geothermal energy began in 1904. The Italian energy provider Enel now operates 37 geothermal power plants, supplying nearly a third of the electricity consumed in Tuscany.
However, improperly executed geothermal projects can also trigger induced earthquakes, as observed in Switzerland (Basel, 2006 or St. Gallen, 2013) or South Korea (Pohang, 2017). Additionally, there are concerns about groundwater pollution or other environmental impacts. These conceivable risks have impacted the public acceptance of geothermal projects. Therefore, the GeoHEAT project also considers the societal impact of geothermal energy exploration since it is just as crucial to success as the technical aspects.
Wissenschaftlicher Ansprechpartner:
Prof. Dr. Erik H. Saenger erik.saenger@ieg.fraunhofer.de
Weitere Informationen:
http://www.geoheat.org Website of the Project
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