Page 30 - European Energy Innovation - spring 2020 publication

30 Spring 2020 European Energy Innovation

COMMUNICATION

Solutions to Materials
Challenges in Geothermaleothermal energy – energy

right beneath our feet –
has an enormous potential

Gwith a proven reliability
challenge, often due to the high next generation of renewable energy
investment and operational costs of technologies through innovative
geothermal power plants. The Secure, materials (corrosion-/temperature-/
clean and efficient energy work wear-resistant, enhanced heat

to meet heating, cooling and flexible programme within Horizon 20201 transfer), increased performance

electricity generation demands. With supports research, demonstration, (drilling), improved cost effectiveness

a low carbon footprint, this largely innovation and market-uptake (plant flexibility), optimisation

untapped natural and renewable actions across different low-carbon of plant operations (geo-fluid

energy resource has the capacity to energy sectors including the Deep characterisation) and the reduction

offer a sustainable and clean energy geothermal energy as part of its of emissions.

future. Despite the opportunities strategy to make the EU global leader

offered, exploitation of geothermal in renewables. The calls to date have

resources continues to remain a concentrated on developing the

Addressing materials challenges in geothermal: Collaborative Initiatives As Part of EC H2020 programme.

GeoCoat2: Developing Next Geo-Drill3: Holistic Drilling GeoSmart4: Towards Flexible and
Generation Coatings for Geothermal Solutions for Cheaper Geothermal Efficient Geothermal Systems
Power Plant Power GeoSmart aims to optimise and
The project is developing novel high The project aims to reduce the high demonstrate innovations to improve
performance, specialised corrosion- costs associated with drilling by the flexibility and efficiency of
and erosion-resistant coatings for addressing the materials challenges geothermal heat and power systems,
geothermal applications. These associated with the wear and fracture by developing a suite of equipment
high performance corrosion and of drilling components. The Geo-Drill and tools including a) Energy storage
erosion resistant coatings are based concept is based on three technology and power block management
on selected high entropy alloys pillars a) Reduced drilling cost through innovations to provide daily flexibility
(HEAs) and ceramic/metal mixtures hydraulic DownTheHolefluid/mud b) Integrate more flexible Organic
(Cermets) to be applied through high hammer b) Advanced drill monitoring Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems that can
velocity oxy fuel (HVOF) thermal through low-cost and robust cope with variations in needs in the
spray, electro spark deposition (ESD), 3D printed sensors c) Improved electricity markets c) Combine Heat
electroless plating, and laser cladding. component life through advanced and Power (CHP) supplier to extract
The novel materials are being tested materials and coatings.The strength of more heat from the post-generator
both in both simulated and real these technologies will be combined ("waste" heat) brine outflows when
geothermal environment at the to meet the unified objective of required for increased heating supply
Hellisheiði geothermal power plant. developing novel drilling technologies during colder weather
that will significantly reduce the cost
of deep geothermal drilling, with a
targeted depth of 5 km and high
temperatures of 250°C and above.

1 https://www.h2020.md/en/content/secure-clean-and-efficient-energy
2 http://www.geo-coat.eu/
3 https://www.geodrillproject.eu/
4 https://www.geosmartproject.eu/
5 http://science4cleanenergy.eu/
6 https://www.twi-global.com/media-and-events/press-releases/2019/geohex-towards-enhanced-heat-exchangers-performance
7 https://www.twi-global.com/media-and-events/press-releases/2019/geopro-understanding-geofluid-chemistry

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