Integrated Research as Key to the Development of a Sustainable Geothermal Energy Technology

Abstract

As estimated by the International Energy Agency, geothermal power can contribute to 3.5 % of worldwide power and 3.9 % to heat production by 2050. This includes the development of enhanced geothermal systems (EGSs) in low‐enthalpy systems. EGS technology is still in an early stage of development. Pushing EGS technologies towards market maturity requires a long‐term strategic approach and massive investments in research and development. Comprehensive multidisciplinary research programs that combine fundamental and applied concepts to tackle technological, economic, ecological, and safety challenges along the EGS process chain are needed. The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has defined a broad research program on EGS technology development following the necessity of a transdisciplinary approach. The research concept is embedded in the national research program of the Helmholtz Association and is structured in four clusters: reservoir characterization and engineering, thermal water circuit, materials and geoprocesses, and power plant operation. The proximity to industry, closely interlinked with fundamental research, forms the basis of a target‐orientated concept. The present paper aims to give an overview of geothermal research at KIT and emphasizes the need for concerted research efforts at the international level to accelerate technological breakthrough of EGS as an essential part of a future sustainable energy system.

Assessment of performance and parameter sensitivity of multicomponent geothermometry applied to a medium enthalpy geothermal system

“…), commonly used for geothermometry. Also the authors of this study have previously found strong indications for the significant effect of different reservoir lithologies on the hydrochemical composition of the fluids affecting the calculation of reservoir temperatures (Meller et al 2016;Nitschke et al 2015;Nitschke et al 2016). In this work, laboratory experiments are conducted to investigate the site-specific impact Page 3 of 20 Nitschke et al Geotherm Energy (2017) 5:12 of rock composition on the equilibrated fluids in detail and to deduce implications for classical solute geothermometer applications.…”

Assessing the Economic Impact of Renewable Energy from a Technology Perspective

“…Geothermal energy is a new energy with great potential, but the current geothermal system is still in the early stage of development. The maturity of geothermal energy technology requires long-term strategic methods and a large amount of R & D investment, and comprehensive and interdisciplinary research plans to solve the technical, economic, ecological and security challenges in the process chain of geothermal system [18]. In the process of geothermal energy development, enhanced geothermal systems (EGSs) technology plays a key role [19][20][21].…”

Comparison of Surface Roughness and Transport Processes of Sawed, Split and Natural Sandstone Fractures

“…To understand flow and solute transport in complex natural fractured systems, a profound investigation of flow and transport processes in a single fracture is often considered helpful to reveal the principal relationship between parameters and variables besides the difficulties of upscaling the findings to larger fracture networks [1][2][3][4][5]. Hydraulic flow and solute transport in fractured systems are relevant processes in many applications such as the effective remediation of pollutants [6] or in geothermal reservoirs [7]. During solute transport, dispersion is a crucial and characteristic process dominating the solute concentration distribution in a single fracture.…”