There is a growing need for more renewable energy in the world. Geothermal energy offers a sheer infinite resource for heat extracted from the underground, combining a constant and reliable supply with low carbon emissions. Within the EU, geothermal energy contributed in 2015 3.1% to the total primary production of renewable energy. To exploit the full potential of geothermal energy for heating and cooling, as well as for generating electricity, the EU is funding several research and demonstration projects. The focus lies on the development, improvement and demonstration of technologies for shallow and deep geothermal energy exploitation with an emphasis on safety, sustainable responsibility and cost optimisation. The DEEPEGS goal is to demonstrate the feasibility of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) for delivering energy from renewable resources in Europe. Testing of stimulation technologies for EGS in deep wells in different geologies is meant to deliver new innovative solutions and models for wider deployments of EGS reservoirs with sufficient permeability for delivering significant amounts of geothermal power across Europe. Social feasibility studies will be carried out by integrating regulatory dimension of each country. Furthermore, to be very clear and in comfort with public acceptance, Fonroche Géothermie (FG), will not test hydrofracking in France for its projects of deep geothermal energy. Data regarding environmental hazard and risks are used to assess, analyze and prepare the work at demonstration sites. The DEEPEGS project, brings together analysis of business drivers for EGS developments on local, regional, European and global levels. The consortium partners plan to exchange best practices and develop new business strategies based on the implementations at the demonstrator sites. Further exchanges with other industry and science counterparts will be channeled into potential exploitation initiatives to create business opportunities leveraging future actions. The work to demonstrate the business cases for the various technology solutions will identify potential barriers for public acceptance, market uptake, and regulatory issues including possible standardisation needs, financing interests and other supply-side issues of relevance for successful wider EGS implementations. Objectives fulfill understanding of the deep geothermal potential by demonstrating advanced geothermal well drilling, construction, stimulation methods, reservoir engineering and modelling technologies.
