Mon, 09 January, 2023
Having begun in April 2019, the Geo-Drill project is now preparing for ongoing field trial tests in Bochum this spring and you can stay up-to-date by subscribing to the Geo-Drill newsletter.
The project consortium have been working to reduce the cost of geothermal drilling operations to make this renewable energy resource more appealing as part of the future energy mix.
While also time-dependent, the cost of drilling can account for 53% of the cost of geothermal exploitation.
Geo-Drill has been working to reduce this by developing technologies suitable for drilling depths of over 5km and at temperatures exceeding 250ºC. Increasing the rate of penetration while also improving the lifespan of the tools being used, the project team have been developing a bi-stable fluidic amplifier driven mud hammer, low cost 3D printed sensors and cables, a drill monitoring system and graphene-based materials and coatings for tools.
Reducing costs and speeding up operations are just two benefits of this project that will also see a reduction in the environmental impact of drilling activities and enhance the growth of geothermal as a viable energy source.
Make sure you stay updated on the latest happenings in this innovative project by subscribing to the Geo-Drill newsletter, here.
The Geo-Drill project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 815319