Increasing the uptake of geothermal resources beyond volcanic and rifting areas offers near-unlimited energy for multiple spheres of our economy and society, including direct heating, industrial use, and electricity generation. However, finding these resources is a global challenge that will require a new understanding of how heat is stored and transferred in lower-temperature settings.
Our project identifies the natural processes that create deep crystalline reservoirs in relatively lower-temperature areas, with a particular interest in the Fennoscandian Shield, Northern Europe. We will combine geophysical datasets, information from deep boreholes, outcropping rocks, and microscopic observations into a unified model that explains how crystalline rock formations can perform as geothermal reservoirs.
As a result, we will de-risk deep drilling uncertainties and ensure that large geothermal resources can become economically available globally – key to achieve our energy security while supporting global decarbonisation goals.