EC support to geothermal energy research and demonstration Jeroen Schuppers European Commission, DG Research ENGINE Launching Conference Orléans 13 February 2006

Outline üCurrent status of geothermal energy use in the EU üCurrent status of EU geothermal RTD&D üTowards the 7th Framework Programme

Geothermal power: current trend EurObserv’ER 2005 Cumulated announced efforts will bring European Union capacity up to 988 MW, i.e. a little less than the objective set by the European Commission MWe

Geothermal heat: current trend üFor medium to low temperature heat an increase of 50 MW per year until 2010 seems a reasonable assumption, which will bring capacity up to MWth üGeothermal heat pumps could reach MW capacity in 2010 if average annual growth rate of 10% is maintained EurObserv’ER 2005 The Commission will work towards legislation on renewable energy in heating in 2006 MWth

Highlights of current EC geothermal RTD (1) Research: overify the technical feasibility, cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability of electricity production from enhanced geothermal systems and other unconventional geothermal resources, through innovative research into exploration, resource assessment and management techniques, cheaper and more advanced drilling and stimulation technologies, and more efficient power cycles Demonstration: oelectricity generation and/or CHP generation employing innovative, environmentally sustainable and cost competitive technologies oheating and cooling employing innovative environmentally sustainable and cost competitive technologies, including ground coupled heat pumps

Highlights of current EC geothermal RTD (2) EGS PILOT PLANT European geothermal project for the construction of a scientific pilot plant based on an Enhanced Geothermal System I-GET LOW-BIN GROUNDHIT ENGINE

The European Test Site Soultz-sous-Forêts The “Graben” SOULTZ Black Forest Vosges

1997 circulation: > 10 MW(th) Important Milestones 3600 m 150 o C Scientific Pilot Plant m 200 o C 5000 m 200 o C

The Scientific Pilot Plant Phase I ( ) :The underground system Drilling 3 directional wells to 5 km Creation & testing of the heat exchanger Phase II ( ) : Proof of concept & power generation Long-term circulation through the reservoir Hook-up 1,5 Mwe to provide realistic load Pilot plant installation (6 MWe)

Swiss Deep Heat Mining Project IEA Geothermal Implementing Agreement oAnnex I: Environmental Impacts oAnnex III: Enhanced Geothermal Systems oAnnex IV: Deep Geothermal Resources oAnnex VII: Advanced Geothermal Drilling Techniques oAnnex VIII: Direct Use of Geothermal Energy International co-operation NOW AVAILABLE! New EGS Project Handbook from ANNEX III Enhanced Geothermal System Project Management Decision Assistant http//

The EGS challenge oexploration oresource assessment oresource management oadvanced drilling oadvanced stimulation oefficient power cycles oenvironmental impact RESOURCE USE COST RISK

Drilled Meters per day Price (Ecu)Euro/Meter The learning curve meters drilled per day and cost per meter Source: T. Hettkamp, J. Baumgärtner, D. Teza, T. Gandy & R..Baria 2004 Deepening GPK from 2002 to 3590 m GPK drilling to 3883 m Deepening GPK from 3883 to 5084 m GPK directional drilling to 5101 m GPK directional drilling to 5261 m

A thought on drilling cost

GPK-1 GPK-2 GPK-3

Highlights of current EC geothermal RTD (3) EGS PILOT PLANT I-GET Integrated Geophysical Exploration Technologies for deep fractured geothermal systems LOW-BIN Efficient Low Temperature Geothermal Binary Power GROUNDHIT Ground coupled heat pumps of High Technology ENGINE

Highlights of current EC geothermal RTD (4) EGS PILOT PLANT I-GET LOW-BIN GROUNDHIT ENGINE Enhanced Geothermal Innovative Network for Europe

The ENGINE challenge: Co-ordinate ongoing research and promote the development and uptake of new technologies Organise conferences and dedicated workshops (drilling, electricity generation & CHP) Establish links between researchers, industry, international organisations… Integration of scientific and technical know-how and practices Best Practice Manual for EGS/UGS European Reference Manual with synthesis of BPM and reference to all information, (meta)database and models collected during the CA FROM KNOW-HOW TO SHOW-HOW

Seventh Framework Programme Commission proposal  Budget to be finalised  Structure: Specific Programmes Ideas – Frontier research Cooperation – Collaborative research People – Human potential Capacities – Research capacity (Euratom, JRC)

Cooperation, Energy Hydrogen and fuel cells Renewable electricity generation Renewable fuels production Renewable heating and cooling CO2 capture and storage technologies for zero emission power generation Clean coal technologies Smart energy networks Energy efficiency and savings Knowledge for energy policy making Seventh Framework Programme

Conclusions  The EC research programme gives support to all the renewable energy sources taking into account the research needs of the different technologies.  The main goal is to reduce the costs while increasing the availability, efficiency and reliability.  The emphasis of the RTD–part of the programme is on biomass and photovoltaics. In FP7, we hope to be able to better support also wind, geothermal, high temperature solar and ocean energy.

MEANWHILE AT SOULTZ-SOUS-FORETS …