GeoSmart: Towards Flexible and Efficient Geothermal Systems

摘要

The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan1, commonly referred to as the SET plan, focusses on fostering the development and implementation of low-carbon technologies. Geothermal, energy harvested from the earth’s core, is a renewable technology with capacity to offer a low-carbon, clean and non-intermittent energy resource. Despite the opportunities, exploitation of geothermal power has traditionally lagged behind as opposed to wind and solar technologies. Geothermal is currently engineered as an "always on" baseload supply, due to the limited flexibility to throttle the well without scaling and liner fatigue problems, and is engineered for maximal efficiency at this output level. Project GeoSmart, funded by European Commission’s H2020 program, aims to address the strategic flexibility required from European geothermal installations, as they become significant energy sources over the next 20-30 years, replacing decommissioned fossil fuel plants.