Innovative technologies in the development of geothermal energy in Europe

Innovative technologies in the field of geothermal energy focus on three areas: (i) resource assessment, (ii) resource development, and (iii) resource utilisation and management for electricity, heat supply and mineral extraction (lithium). They include increased electric power system efficiency, novel and optimised drilling technologies, underground thermal energy storage, new exploration methods, closed loops, smart systems, and 3D models. Advanced plants and technologies include ultra-deep geothermal systems, enhanced geothermal systems, advanced geothermal systems, supercritical geothermal systems. They allow access to vast geothermal resources, which would otherwise remain largely unexploited. Advanced geothermal systems have ongoing commercially viable projects in the US and Europe. Ground source geothermal heating and cooling is a well-established technology, which is currently experiencing the opening of new markets and continuous growth. Geothermal heat pumps are among the most-performant energy-efficient technologies to transfer heat from/to the ground for heating and cooling buildings. Innovation focus here is on new materials and investment costs reduction.