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  5. Large-scale "Deep" Geothermal Energy

Large-scale "Deep" Geothermal Energy

Large-scale "Deep" Geothermal Energy

Whilst Ireland does not have a ‘traditional’ geothermal setting (i.e., we are situated far from active volcanoes), geothermal energy can still be utilized and has a variety of applications, particularly for heating and cooling homes and businesses, district heating and the agri-food sector. Ireland’s geological history has produced several deep sedimentary basins that present the most obvious targets for exploration for large amounts of deep geothermal heat.

Geological Survey Ireland released a suite of deep temperature maps in 2021 which highlights the potential for deep geothermal energy in southeastern, southwestern, and northern regions of the island. Geological Survey Ireland held the first National Geothermal Energy Summit on 9 November 2022 at TU Dublin's Grangegorman campus. This event brought together experts from the worlds of policy, industry, and research to discuss the vision for the future of geothermal energy in Ireland.

​IRETHERM​

Geological Survey Ireland was part of a geothermal energy assessment project named IRETHERM (IREland's geoTHERMal 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.

IRETHERM project

HotLime

​As part of the GeoERA Geo-Energy theme, the GSI was actively involved in the HotLime project to characterise and assess hydrothermal systems in deep carbonate rocks.
In order to de-risk these challenging geothermal plays, it is crucial to improve our understanding of geological conditions that determine the distribution and technical recoverability of their potential resources. The efficacy of carbonate-bedrock geothermal plays is crucially dependent on groundwater yield controlled by fracture conduits and karstification. This project will identify the generic structural controls in deep carbonate formations, through a comparison of geological situations and their structural inventory, as well as collation of deep borehole data and their petro- and hydro-physical characteristics. A consistent assessment and the sharing of knowledge – bringing all partners to a common high level – will result in uniformly applicable best practice workflows for estimation, comparison and prospect ranking of hydrothermal resources in deep carbonate bedrock.

Hotlime Project