The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) has announced €1 million in Government funding towards innovative research projects targeting geothermal energy. The three projects were awarded funding under the 2019 SEAI National Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Funding Programme, with strategic co-funding support from GSI.

Geothermal energy refers to the heat energy generated and stored in the Earth. It can be harnessed from both shallow and deep drilling. This energy can be used for heating our homes and heating water and if the source is hot enough, electricity generation. Geothermal is a proven technology across Europe and has the potential to de-carbonise energy in Ireland and reduce our reliance on imported energy sources.

Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies was awarded funding for the DIG project (De-risking Ireland’s Geothermal energy potential). It aims to reduce risk in harnessing Ireland´s geothermal energy potential using a multi-scale and multi-disciplinary approach. It will improve the estimation of deep geothermal resources in Ireland, building on existing datasets and geothermal modelling knowledge.

Gavin and Doherty Geosolutions Ltd has been awarded funding for a project titled ThermoWell. It will apply novel drilling and exploration techniques for deep geothermal resources and aims to demonstrate the economically advantageous use of Deep Standing Column Wells as a renewable heat resource.

Terra GeoServ Ltd has been awarded funding for its research project ShallowTHERM. This project will test a methodology to estimate the underground heat-exchange potential for shallow geothermal installations, in particular, vertical closed loop collectors.

Michael McDonnell Managing Editor of Irish Construction Industry Magazine & Plan Magazine

Email: michael@irishconstruction.com      WWW.MCDMEDIA.IE