the egec view on the future geothermal energy research infrastructure in europe dr. burkhard sanner...

The EGEC view on the future geothermal energy research

infrastructure in Europe

Dr. Burkhard SannerGeothermische Vereinigung e.V., Geeste

European Geothermal Energy Council, Brussels

International Geothermal AssociationIGA European Branch Forum, Skopje

DG Research Workshop „Future Needs for Research Infrastructure in Energy“

Bruxelles, June 1st, 2005

Geothermal energy can be found throughout Europe, with very different resources and application

Geothermal energy

Geothermal energy can be found throughout Europe, with very different resources and application

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Currently the geothermal research in Europe can be divided into two areas, mainly along the lines of division between DG RES and DG TREN, respectively:

• Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS, comprising the formerly so called Hot Dry Rock and related technologies)

•

Situation in FP6

Currently the geothermal research in Europe can be divided into two areas, mainly along the lines of division between DG RES and DG TREN, respectively:

• Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS, comprising the formerly so called Hot Dry Rock and related technologies)

• “Classical” geothermal power and low-/medium-temperature geothermal power, geothermal district heating, shallow geothermal applications like geothermal heat pumps, and other uses e.g. in agriculture, for road de-icing, etc.

Situation in FP6

Most (all) of geothermal research funding from DG RES goes into the European EGS project in Soultz-sous-Forêts, and to the research centres, companies and universities involved in this project.

However, within a few years, the site in Soultz will be a demonstration plant in routine operation, and the progress of EGS will haveto be sought

• in optimisation of the Soultz plant, and creation of plants in similar geology

• on other sites in different geology, with specific new problems,

• by using EGS in technologies for other geothermal applications.

Situation in FP6

DG TREN provided the funding for the rest of the geothermal technologies, with a focus for some time on

• geothermal district heating,

• low-temperature geothermal power production,

• agricultural uses,

• and a focus in recent years on geothermal heat pumps.

In this field, smaller groups from different areas carried out the work, usually without many official contacts or networking between the groups.

Situation in FP6

Type of research infrastructure existing and required for geothermal energy:

• Boreholes

• Geophysical equipment for field work

• Geochemical equipment for investigations in field and laboratory

• Computing

• Documentation and training

• Research in related fields

Research infrastructure

Documentation and training

post-graduate courses, e.g. at the United Nations University Geothermal Training Program in Reykjavik, Iceland, or organised as summer schools.

IGA-EBF supports the International Summer School on Direct Applications of Geothermal Energy (ISS), which is located in Skopje, Macedonia, and organizes yearly schools throughout Europe in co-operation with universities and associations

other summer schools are organised by JENARUM at Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey, or by the Geothermal Training Centre at University of Oradea in Romania.

Research infrastructure

In the geothermal sector, a single joint European research activity is not feasible, as the geological and geothermal conditions vary substantially between the countries.

Specific regional knowledge of the underground, including the adapted technologies, is as important as the advance in technology that could be used more generally. Therefore, EGEC would like to see a strengthening of the already existing R&D-centres and universities, and increased support of the involvement of the geothermal industry in R&D, in co-operation with the centres and universities or as pure industry research

The FP6 project proposal ENGINE aimed at creating a network of existing research facilities. However, due to the policy of DG RES, it had to be confined mainly to EGS.

Perspectives for FP7

A non-inclusive list of relevant research centres in the geothermal field in Europe is given here: BRGM, Orleans, France CRES, Pikermi, Greece GFZ, Potsdam, Germany / GGA/BGR, Hannover, Germany INOVA, Ponta Delgada, Azores/Portugal INR, Pisa, Italy ISOR, Reykjavik, Iceland JENARUM, Izmir, Turkey / MTA, Ankara, Turkey NGU, Trondheim, Norway PAS-MERI, Krakow/Zakopane, Poland .... and a substantial number of universities in most of Europe, as well as the geological surveys


Beside a stronger support in FP7 for networking between the centres, the creation of a co-ordination office should be considered.

This office preferably should not be located at one of the large research centres, to enhance its acceptance and to avoid a possible bias in its work. It should be located in a central position within Europe, in orderto facilitate meetings and the co-ordination process in general.


The task of a co-ordination office would be to ensure

• that research results will be available to all institutions involved in geothermal R&D,

• that parallel R&D on the same topic is avoided,

• that necessary investigations are done by the best suited institution and location, and results can be used by all,

• that investment into R&D- infrastructure is done at the most appropriate places,

• and similar items.


Geothermal energy R&D by the own nature of the resource requires decentralised research facilities.

The European added value in this field should be achieved by close networking, enhanced by a co-ordination and documentation office, and complemented by training and education activities.

The research priorities should include not only EGS, but also the other geothermal areas (see EGEC list).

The individual research facilities, and the co-ordination office, must have sufficient funds at their disposal to carry out the work required for further development of geothermal energy use.

Conclusions

Thank you für your attention!

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