From react to REFLECT: new EU research project will study behaviour of geothermal fluids to increase efficiency of geothermal operations

EFG is joining a new research project on geothermal energy: REFLECT. The efficiency of geothermal utilisation depends on the behaviour of fluids that transfer heat between the geosphere and the engineered components of a power plant. REFLECT aims to avoid problems related to fluid chemistry rather than treat them. These physical and chemical properties are often poorly defined, as in situ sampling and measurements at extreme conditions are difficult to date. Therefore, large uncertainties in current model predictions prevail, which will be tackled in REFLECT by collecting new, high-quality data in critical areas. This data will be implemented in a European geothermal fluid atlas and predictive models allowing to provide recommendations on how to best operate geothermal systems for sustainable use.

Last 29 and 30 January, the project’s kick-off meeting in Potsdam marked the start of this technical and interesting project. The project partners were hosted by the Helmholtz Zentrum Potsdam Deutsches Geoforschungszentrum (GFZ) in their beautiful campus, in the top of a former observatory-building, offering thus a great atmosphere for such an engaging project.

REFLECT project partners at the kick-off meeting in Potsdam.

The session started with a welcoming coffee followed by a short introduction of each partner and a brief description of the work packages (WP) in which they will work. Then the EU Project Officer connected remotely to explain administrative and technical matters in Horizon 2020 projects. Afterwards the work package leaders presented more in detail their tasks in the project, starting with WP1 and WP2, respectively focusing on characterising properties in high temperature and high salinity fluids.

After lunch, colleagues from University of Miskolc presented the work package 3 in which EFG will lead the task 3.1 –Collection of existing data. For this purpose, EFG’s National Associations which participate as Linked Third Parties in REFLECT will collect information from the different European countries. This data will help to establish the European Fluid Atlas which will be public and available via the REFLECT website. Afterwards, WP4 on “Modelling fluid behaviour and optimisation of fluid production) was presented followed by WP6 on “Dissemination and exploitation” which is led by EFG.

The sessions of the second day focused on establishing a strategy for the sampling campaigns and how to manage the data collected or created by the consortium.

To those who were not in a hurry to take their flights back, GFZ organised an interesting visit to the labs in which they will work for the project, explaining main functions and specifications of their advanced systems.

Read more about REFLECT in this press release and follow the project online:

LinkedIn: reflect-project

Twitter:   reflect_h2020