Geoenergy Leap

Introduction

 

Geoenergy – the earth’s internal energy – and its more efficient use are crucial for promoting the green energy transition. Curbing climate change requires significantly reducing fossil fuel use and abandoning peat’s energy utilisation. Renewable, non-combustion-based energy solutions are urgently needed, particularly for heat production in northern latitudes.

The Geoenergy Leap project aims to speed up the widespread use of low-carbon geoenergy in the provinces to strengthen their energy self-sufficiency and supply security. This initiative involves collaboration between GTK, universities, and other stakeholders in the geoenergy sector. The primary focus of the research project includes:

To drill medium-deep, 600 to 800 m, geothermal energy wells for R&D purposes in each funding region.
To construct permanent geothermal field laboratories around geothermal wells to facilitate high-level teaching and innovative research.
To develop cost-efficient modelling and measuring techniques for the geothermal industry.
To minimise drilling risks through expert knowledge in geoscience, especially for proactively identifying weak zones that hinder deep drilling.
To enhance the drilling process with AI.
To create a digital twin of the ground-source heat pump system and compare it with other heating and cooling solutions through simulations.
To pilot geothermal heating and cooling possibilities in selected sites
To provide a free AI-based dimensioning tool for medium-deep geothermal system planning and geological information for the geothermal industry.
By promoting all these issues simultaneously, a geoenergy leap is achieved. This will improve the economic profitability of geoenergy, particularly medium-deep geothermal wells through new technologies and reproducibility. The project aims to provide better design tools, initial information data, and broader expertise, facilitating the successful and cost-efficient implementation of medium-deep geothermal systems. Additionally, it seeks to boost confidence in investing in medium-deep geothermal energy technology, consequently increasing employment opportunities for geoenergy designers and drillers.

The project will be implemented in Central Ostrobothnia, North Ostrobothnia, and Kymenlaakso provinces, with an additional cross-provincial section.

Lead partner: The Geological Survey of Finland GTK (coordinator)

Partial partners: Centria University of Applied Sciences, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences Ltd, University of Oulu

Financier and main source of funding: Co-funded by the European Union, Central Ostrobothnia, Regional council of Kymenlaakso, Council of Oulu Region

Financial source: European Union, JTF (Just Transition Fund), Just transition for discontinuing the use of peat in regions

Contact persons: Annu Martinkauppi (project manager) and Aleksi Rantanen (research coordinator)

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