The programme on 6 September 2022 also included a discussion on the current tension between practice and science in the field of near-surface geothermal energy and a science slam.
At the EASyQuart user workshop in Leipzig's KUBUS on 6 September 2022 at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, key developments in the research project were presented. A panel discussion with the participation of representatives from research and practice introduced the workshop. In dialogue with the audience, the topic of "Research into near-surface geothermal energy in the field of tension between practice and science" was discussed. An important conclusion of the discussion was that a shorter path to practical application is absolutely necessary for near-surface geothermal utilisation and should be implemented promptly together with authorities and administrations.
Various research results from the EASyQuart project were then presented, including investigations into the sensitivity of parameters in relation to the design of geothermal plants. It was emphasised that the functioning of the systems must be guaranteed reliably in the long term, but that this is a complicated and challenging task, as there is often no precise data on the nature of the subsurface. However, the more precisely the subsoil is known, the better predictions can be made using numerical simulations. It is therefore important to know the parameters that are decisive for the design and to determine these as accurately and reliably as possible. Equally important is the coordination between the installed building services and the associated geothermal system, which was also analysed in the project. Furthermore, a targeted exploration strategy and appropriate monitoring also play an important role in the design, planning and operation of geothermal probe systems.
Another highlight of the workshop was the presentation of the research projects GeoWaermeWende (RWTH Aachen), Geo-Resume (ISFH Emmerthal), MultiSource (TH Nuremberg) and QEWSplus (Biberach University of Applied Sciences) as part of science slam presentations. It became clear that there are many interfaces between these projects and the EASyQuart project, meaning that future project collaborations are possible. "You always think you're only doing something great on your own, but there are many more people working on very similar problems. If they exchange ideas with each other, it can help everyone move forward faster," commented one workshop participant.
EASyQuart
The BMWi project EASyQuart is a joint project of the partners geoENERGIE Konzept GmbH Freiberg, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ and the HTWK Leipzig. The aim of the project is the energy-efficient design and planning of decentralised supply networks for heating and cooling urban districts, a topic that is currently experiencing a whole new explosive force.
The programme of the user workshop on 6.09.2022 and the presentations of the scientific contributions (as PDF files) can be found on the UFZ project website.
