Enhanced Technology Transfer for Geothermal Exploitation Through a New Research Concept: The Geothermal Energy and High-Performance Drilling Research Program: gebo
Abstract
The government of Lower Saxony plans an extensive utilization of the geothermal potential in its subsurface for heat and electrical energy supply. The conditions to achieve this objective are quite favorable despite the moderate temperatures typical for the subsurface here: the geothermal potential below the surface of Lower Saxony is considerable, the knowledge of the geological subsurface in this oil and gas federal state is good, and the scientific and industrial infrastructure for exploring and developing the geologic subsurface is excellent.
The gebo research association unites the traditional strengths of the participating universities of the federal state of Lower Saxony and independent research institutions in geosciences, drilling technology, materials science, and technical systems. More than 40 scientists and engineers work together to develop and evaluate new concepts, materials, and devices. The gebo research association focuses on broad-scale, partially extremely high-risk problems in the “high-end” area of geothermal research; at the same time the participating industry is carrying out applied systems developments. Besides improving the economics of geothermal energy production and making it economically attractive in Lower Saxony, significant gebo “spinoff” effects are expected to occur in industrial sectors, in particular from the materials and systems technology research.
The paper focuses on the concept of technology transfer through the gebo platform, as well as on its unique cooperation between seven project partners (research institutions), the industry partner, and the state of Lower Saxony. Also, the paper describes the objective, strategy, and organization of the research program gebo, which aims at improving the economics of geothermal energy recovery from deep geological strata by investigating new concepts and basic scientific work.
Introduction
“The federal state Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony) pursues the ambitious goal to use its existing geothermal potential for production of thermal heat and electric power.” This was the statement of the Minister for Science and Culture of Lower Saxony, Mr. Lutz Stratmann, on the occasion of the opening presentation of the new research association, Geothermal Energy and High Performance Drilling Research Program gebo, on May 20th, 2009, at Baker Hughes in Celle.
Despite relatively moderate temperatures in the geological subsurface, Lower Saxony fulfills the major prerequisites to achieve this goal: It possesses considerable geothermal potential, and the necessary knowledge concerning the geological subsurface is available from existing oil and natural gas wells. In addition, the scientific and industrial infrastructure for exploration and development of the geological subsurface has demonstrated excellent reputation. The exploration and development of deep geothermal energy is, however, connected with high costs and risks. They result in particular from the expensive and time-consuming construction of the necessary deep boreholes (drill wells) and required geological heat exchanger.
The goal of the gebo research association is to carry out research and survey new concepts allowing an improved economic efficiency of geothermal energy generation from deep geological formations. With its focus on innovative aspects of the drilling and development of subsurface heat exchangers, the association addresses those aspects of geothermal power projects for which both costs and risks are the highest (ca. 70% of the total investment). The gebo research association unites the traditional strengths of the participating universities of the federal state of Lower Saxony and independent research institutions in geosciences, drilling technology, materials science, and technical systems. More than 40 scientists and engineers collaborate to develop and evaluate new concepts, materials and devices.