HORIZON EUROPE: Solutions for more sustainable geothermal energy

Expected Outcome:

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Performance and reliability improvement of shallow and/or deep geothermal systems;
• Reduced environmental impact of geothermal plants;
• Reduced risk of seismicity;
• Increased citizen engagement for geothermal energy;
• Reduction of LCOE approaching SET Plan targets (actions should clearly justify estimated LCOE at project start and end);
• Energy efficient, environmentally sound, and economically viable generation of electricity, and/or heating and cooling from geothermal resources in a wide range of geological settings, enabling geothermal energy development in new regions and supporting application concepts for local energy supply.

 Scope:

The proposal is expected to develop and validate innovative sustainable circular-by-design solutions that can reduce environmental impact and increase the overall circularity of geothermal energy. The following can be considered:

• Capture of greenhouse gases, storage or reinjection schemes for the development and exploitation of geothermal reservoirs, in particular those with high content of non-condensable gases (NCGs), and the use of alternative fluid to brine.
• Techniques for reservoir development and exploitation in a wider range of geological settings, including complex and/or untested geological conditions.
• Potential introduction and demonstration of the innovative technologies as part of existing geothermal plants in Europe and abroad.
• Novel methods and technologies to find and develop productivity from near magmatic, superhot/supercritical zones that are currently unexploitable and non-commercial.

This topic requires the effective contribution of SSH disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities.

Deadline

23 February 2022

More information

Funding & Tenders