On 6 June 2023, the European Federation of Geologists (EFG) organised the webinar ‘Multiple target horizon exploration for the implementation of an integrated geothermal system for Göttingen, Germany‘. The event is scheduled for 15:00 – 16:00 CEST (Brussels time).
The presenter of the webinar was Dr Bernd Leiss, a Researcher and Structural Geologist at the University of Göttingen. The host of the session was the Coordinator of the EFG Panel of Experts on Geothermal Energy, János Szanyi.
To boost the contribution of geothermal energy to Europe’s energy transition, exploration and exploitation must extend to new regions and play types. The EU-HORIZON2020 MEET (Multidisciplinary and multi-context demonstration of EGS exploration and Exploitation Techniques and potentials) project included an analysis of the potential for an Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) in the metasedimentary rocks of the Variscan Fold and Thrust Belt in the subsurface at the University of Göttingen, Germany in regard to deep geothermal energy. The focus is, however, on targeting multiple geological horizons to reduce the exploration risk and to optimize the geothermal energy system, including the development of medium-deep and shallow geothermal systems for heating, cooling, and heat storage. A concept based on these geothermal systems together with other renewable energies and energy-efficiency measures is proposed (energy hub) based on already existing fossil- and biomass-fueled district heating systems.
MEET received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement № 792037.
Watch the recording of the webinar at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw57wbL1R8U
Dr Bernd Leiss is a structural geologist with an originally strong background in the analysis of deformation mechanisms based on quantitative microfabric analyses. Within the last fifteen years, he focused on the field-based development and integration of different innovative geothermal systems. Based at the University of Göttingen, his research activities brought him e.g. for field work in Namibia, to the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna in Russia, the University of Berkeley/California and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Teaching includes geosystems-based energy sources within the BSc-course Ecosystem Management.
