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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