The ORCHYD project will develop a new drilling technique to help reduce the total cost of obtaining geothermal energy from deep hard rocks.
The project, led by researchers from ARMINES/Mines-ParisTech in France with partners Imperial College London, Norway's SINTEF, University of Piraeus in Greece, China University of Petroleum and French drilling company Drillstar, could expand the use of this renewable energy source and help tackle the global climate crisis.
The project is funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 programme.
Geothermal energy harnesses the heat of rocks, steam and water deep beneath the Earth's surface. It is carbon neutral, widely available and, unlike wind and solar energy, can provide a stable supply 24/7. Therefore, geothermal reservoirs could make a significant contribution to the renewable energy supply in Europe and worldwide.
However, the drilling required to reach far enough into deep hard rocks to harvest this type of energy is slow and inefficient, which makes it prohibitively expensive. Geothermal resources, which are inherently more abundant in the hotter rocks found at depths of more than 4km, therefore currently make up less than 2 per cent of the global energy share.
Now, a new 4 million grant from the EU Horizon 2020 program will help researchers from the consortium to develop a new generation of drilling system that could unlock the potential of deep geothermal energy.
