Geological Survey Ireland was part of a geothermal energy assessment project named IRETHERM (
IREland's geo
THERMal
potential). The project was led by the Dublin Institute for Advanced
Studies (DIAS) in collaboration with academic, government and industry
partners. IRETHERM was funded by Science Foundation Ireland under SFI
grant number 10/IN.1/I3022.
IRETHERM aimed to develop a strategic
and holistic understanding of Ireland's geothermal energy potential
through integrated modelling of new and existing geophysical and
geological data.
The project studied eight different "types" of
geological environments to identify those that may host geothermal
resources: deep aquifers or hot, dry rock. A comprehensive suite of
crustal rocks have been collected across Ireland and chemically analysed
to determine their capacity for generating radiogenic heat.
New
electromagnetic and gravity data were acquired in the type areas. High
resolution geophysical modelling tools will be developed for imaging
aquifers and granitic bodies to depths of 5 km. These innovative
software tools allowed joint modelling of electromagnetic and other
existing geophysical data.