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Studying the development of high temperature geothermal resources in Alsace 

The Cantare project was funded as part of the French National Research Agency’s (ANR) 2015 call for projects on the theme of “Transformations and efficient use of energy”.

The project goal is to characterise the transition zone between the crystalline basement and the deep sedimentary cover in the Alsace region for application to improved geothermal exploitation. The project will also provide new conceptual models that will serve as a basis for the exploration and development of future industrial geothermal projects. It will contribute to the development of high temperature geothermal energy (> 150ºC), outside the volcanic zones usually dedicated to the production of electricity.

Funded by: French National Research Agency (ANR)

Project leader: BRGM (French Geological Survey)

Project partners: ITES, ÉS Géothermie

LHyGes and IPGS budget: 360 000€

To learn more visit (in French): cantare-alsace.unistra.fr

Demonstration of soft stimulation treatments of geothermal reservoirs: Developing stimulation techniques to enhance reservoir productivity while minimising environmental risks

The Destress project’s main objective is the development of EGS stimulation technology that significantly improves the productivity of deep geothermal systems while reducing risks to the environment.

The project examines the implemention, analysis, and modelling of innovative stimulation techniques at 8 geothermal drilling sites located in Europe (Germany, France, Holland, Lithuania, Switzerland) and South Korea.

Two University of Strasbourg departments, EOST and LISEC (Laboratoire interuniversitaire des sciences de l’éducation et de la communication), participate in the Destress project. EOST studies the development and exploitation of deep geothermal reservoirs post-stimulation using a multipdisciplinary approach that merges seismology, geodesy, rock mechanics, and the study of water-rock interactions. These studies were carried out at the laboratory, in the field (at the active geothermal sites of Soultz-sous-Forêts and Rittershoffen) and via numerical models. LISEC studies the social acceptability of soft-stimulation activities in Alsace.

Funded by: European Commission Horizon 2020 Initiative

Project leader: GFZ-Potsdam

16 international partners: EnBW Energie Baden-Wurttemberg, ES Geothermie, University of Glasgow, Geo-energie Suisse, TNO, ETH Zürich, Geothermie Neubrandenburg GMBH, Geoterma UAB, Unistra, TU Delft, NEXGO Inc., Seoul National University, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, ECW Geomanagement BV, Trias Westland BV

EOST and LISEC budget: 1 300 000€

Project duration: 2016-2021

To learn more, visit (in English): www.destress-h2020.eu

Innovation for De-Risking Enhanced Geothermal Energy Projects

The public acceptance of Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) projects depends, in part, on our ability to mitigate induced seismicity related to reservoir engineering.

DEEP brings together an interdisciplinary team of scientists and practitioners from around the world to develop innovative approaches to geothermal risk governance based on recent advances in seismic monitoring technologies, modelling capabilities and process understanding.

The five specific objectives of DEEP are:

1. Innovation: DEEP explores how new sensor and processing technologies can deliver step-changes in monitoring and imaging capabilities.
2. De-risking: We develop and test robust real-time modelling and risk-mitigation strategies, based on machine-learning, statistical and physics-based forecasting models.
3. Knowledge transfer: DEEP enables and exploits knowledge transfer between other systems and scales to deep geothermal energy. DEEP will transfer these technologies and physical knowledge (TRL 1-4) to full scale deep geothermal energy applications (TRL 5-7).
4. Demonstration: We demonstrates the potential and limitations of these new technologies and risk mitigation strategies in real-time and on the reservoir scale. In particular, DEEP will demonstrate technologies at the FORGE geothermal site, underground field laboratory in Utah, and at other demonstration sites in Germany and France.
5. Good Practise: DEEP defines the next generation of good-practice guidelines and protocols. These protocols will be harmonized for international use, and be provided through an open-source toolbox for EGS risk assessment and risk management.

Project leader: ETH Zürich and the Swiss Seismological Service

Project partners:
LBNL, Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory
IEG, Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Energy
GES, Geo Energie Suisse
EOST, Ecole et Observatoire des Sciences de la Terre
DIAS, Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies
UNIGE, University of Geneva, Renewable Energy Systems group
TUD, Delft University of Technology
UUTAH, University of Utah
DAGO, Dutch Association Geothermal Operators
RWE, RWE Power AG

Project duration: 2021-2023

To learn more visit (in English): www.deepgeothermal.org

Geothermal resources of crustal fault zones: exploring new systems for competitive geothermal power production

This industry-academic collaboration explores the geothermal energy potential of crustal fault zones. Using the Pontgibaud fault zone in the French Massif Central as a case study. Geresfault develops a multi-scale approach to the characterisation and assessment of geothermal systems rooted in fault zones. Through a combination of field studies, experimental petrophysics, geophysics, and numerical modelling, the project addresses how petrophysical properties measured in the lab can be upscaled and incorporated into 3D geological and numerical models that are then used to constrain hydrothermal systems at the fault, crustal, and lithospheric scales.

Funded by: French National Research Agency (ANR)

Project leader: BRGM (French Geological Survey)

Project partners:
ISTO, Institut des Sciences de la Terre d’Orléans
ITES, Institut Terre et Environnement de Strasbourg
TLS-Geothermics
ISTeP, Instiut des Sciences de la Terre de Paris
LGO, Laboratoire Géosciences Océan
GET, Géosciences Environnement Toulouse
IMAGIR
Storengy

ITES budget: 216 500€

Project duration: 2020-2024