For green cities (mission Horizon Europe), geothermal energy is expected to be used widely in urban areas for heating instead of fossil fuels. Geothermal utilisation in urban areas can be complex — even though the geothermal systems are relatively well known. The main aim is to demonstrate the possibility of a 30–100% increase in the main geothermal use for heating in urban areas in the northern part of the EU. RESULT achieves this by applying 1) optimisation methods and drill-and-learn approaches, 2) model calculations and uncertainty assessment, 3) using the best technology, 4) optimising methods for different conditions in Europe. The innovations will be 5) used in the design and drilling of doublet wells in the Netherlands.
– Enhancing Reservoirs in Urban areas
2020-2023
About the project
The Icelandic part of the RESULT project concerns examining a geothermal system within city limits that has long been in production (a mature field) and seeking ways to increase production capacity and improve resource utilisation in the system. It was decided to take Elliðaárdalur, a system that has been in production since 1968. Over time the system has cooled and chemical changes have been observed. The aim is to examine whether it is possible to increase understanding of the underlying processes and make changes to the operation of the system to facilitate its utilisation.
Collaboration and funding
The project is funded by the Technology Development Fund of RANNÍS through Geothermica, an ERA-NET programme of the EU.
Partners alongside ÍSOR: TNO (lead), EBN, Engie and Huisman from the Netherlands, GDF from Ireland and OR from Iceland.,
ÍSOR project manager: Helga Tulinius