A London-based university is all set to lead a European research project that aims to improve how geothermal energy is harnessed for industrial applications.
Geothermal energy is the most under-used energy source on the planet, according to Brunel University, which is leading the 12-strong consortium behind the venture.
Heat from beneath the ground and the sea bed is the only source of energy available every minute of every day, but it makes up just 0.5% of the renewable energy market worldwide. Most of the countries with the biggest geothermal sectors are outside of Europe.
That’s where the €3m GEOFLEXheat project comes in, funded by European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme.
The consortium takes in 12 research institutions, businesses, and industry experts from across the continent; it’s aim is to tackle the challenges of scaling up and integrating geothermal systems, as well as their social acceptance.
Professor Hussam Jouhara is the leader of Brunel’s Heat Pipe and Thermal Management Research Group, and he is set to become GEOFLEXgheat’s project coordinator.
He said: “Part of the difficulty is that as a low-temperature heat source, geothermal energy is inefficient at producing electric energy. However, if the heat energy can be used directly, rather than being converted to electricity, the efficiency would be close to 100%, regardless of temperature level.”
That’s where his expertise comes in. His research group is said to have revolutionised many sectors by developing novel heat-pipe-based technologies and heat exchangers through his collaboration with industry.
The GEOFLEXheat consortium intends to focus on geothermal brine: Abundant warm waters underground that in some places, such as Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon, bubble up to the Earth’s surface, rich with salts and minerals.
GEOFLEXheat will develop a system that combines a heat pipe heat exchanger with an innovative scaling reduction system, a high-temperature heat pump and a thermal energy storage. When used together, these components will exploit the waste heat from a geothermal brine power plant; collect the otherwise corrosive salts and minerals into a valuable resource; and create a range of upgraded, cost-effective and consistent water temperatures, up to a 110C steam, that will deliver what’s needed for industrial applications and for district hot water.
Going underground
The project will also deliver a state-of-the-art control strategy and digital twin: A virtual model that’s updated from sensors studded throughout the system, enabling real-time management and optimisation of geothermal plants.
Jouhara added: “In this project, we will develop a strategy to demonstrate the potential range of applications of the GEOFLEXheat solution to various industrial areas near active geothermal wells.
“Because it’s currently a smaller sector, geothermal energy is less well understood and appreciated than the likes of solar or biomass. So, our strategy will be composed of an approach to the acceptance of geothermal heat extraction, demonstrating the safety and the technical and economical assessment of the selected locations in Iceland and Italy.
“Overall, the project will showcase the full potential of geothermal energy to provide stable, affordable and sustainable heat supply.”
The project gets underway in October 2024 and will run for three years. It is the first project that is coordinated by Brunel University London under the Horizon Europe programme.
To ensure its outcomes have a lasting impact, the consortium intends to create a spin-off company, carry out extensive environmental and economic assessments, and create a social acceptance guide to facilitate policy influence and community engagement.
Jouhara said: “As part of our sustainable future, geothermal energy ought to be a cornerstone of Europe’s renewable energy mix. So GEOFLEXheat is poised to become a catalyst for energy sustainability, economic growth and environmental stewardship.”
Along with Brunel University London, the consortium also includes: Baseload Power Iceland ehf (Iceland); il Consorzio per lo Sviluppo delle Aree Geotermiche (Italy); European Heat Pump Association (Belgium); Flowphys AS (Norway); GESTRA AG (Germany); Olivieris Tech Incubator Limited (Ireland); Privanova SAS (France); Rete Geotermica (Italy); Spike Renewables S.r.l. (Italy); Transformation Lighthouse, poslovno svetovanje, d.o.o. (Slovenia); and Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas (Lithuania).
Main image: A geothermal power station in Iceland
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