Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SAPHEA (Developing a single access point for the market uptake of geothermal energy use in multivalent heating and cooling networks across Europe)
Reporting period: 2022-10-01 to 2024-03-31
The SAPHEA project addresses the EU's need for a sustainable energy transition, focusing on the heating and cooling (HC) sector, which consumes half of the EU’s energy and relies on fossil fuels. Transitioning to geothermal energy within district heating and cooling networks (geoHC) is viable but faces market barriers. SAPHEA promotes geoHC integration across Europe to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, developing a comprehensive digital Market Uptake Hub with tools, guidelines, and support for investment and planning.
Objectives:
1. Establish a Digital Market Uptake Hub for stakeholder decision-making and consultancy.
2. Enhance tools like Hotmaps and EnerMaps for geoHC integration in investment decisions.
3. Offer policy recommendations and financing blueprints for geoHC investments.
4. Engage regional stakeholders to create applicable tools and increase geoHC visibility.
5. Provide capacity-building programs to train market actors and foster dialogue.
Expected Impact:
• Reduce Fossil Fuel Dependency: Promote geoHC adoption to replace fossil fuels.
• Enhance Market Readiness: Help market actors overcome barriers and accelerate deployment.
• Improve Policy Frameworks: Create favorable conditions for geoHC investments.
• Strengthen Stakeholder Engagement: Raise awareness and build capacity for better integration.
• Ensure Long-term Sustainability: Establish a durable Market Uptake Hub for ongoing benefits.
SAPHEA aims to play a crucial role in the EU’s energy transition, promoting sustainable development, environmental protection, economic efficiency, and energy security.
Objectives:
1. Establish a Digital Market Uptake Hub for stakeholder decision-making and consultancy.
2. Enhance tools like Hotmaps and EnerMaps for geoHC integration in investment decisions.
3. Offer policy recommendations and financing blueprints for geoHC investments.
4. Engage regional stakeholders to create applicable tools and increase geoHC visibility.
5. Provide capacity-building programs to train market actors and foster dialogue.
Expected Impact:
• Reduce Fossil Fuel Dependency: Promote geoHC adoption to replace fossil fuels.
• Enhance Market Readiness: Help market actors overcome barriers and accelerate deployment.
• Improve Policy Frameworks: Create favorable conditions for geoHC investments.
• Strengthen Stakeholder Engagement: Raise awareness and build capacity for better integration.
• Ensure Long-term Sustainability: Establish a durable Market Uptake Hub for ongoing benefits.
SAPHEA aims to play a crucial role in the EU’s energy transition, promoting sustainable development, environmental protection, economic efficiency, and energy security.
WP 1 ensures timely project implementation, internal communication, decision-making, risk management, and compliance with FAIR principles and IPR. Achievements: robust communication platform, structured meetings, External Advisory Board.
Task 1.1:Established a project office, MS-Teams platform, and organized key events and meetings. Achievements: Initial Project Implementation Plan, templates for resource control, regular budget updates.
Task 1.2: Coordinated meetings, facilitated partner communication, and managed financial controls. Achievements: structured meeting schedule, effective management of partner contributions.
Task 1.3: Established an External Advisory Board.
WP2 identified market drivers, developed scenario catalogues, and prepared datasets, laying the foundation for integrating geothermal energy into HC networks.
Task 2.1:Assessed market drivers, engaging experts for validation. Achievements: Deliverable 2.1 informing future tasks and support tools.
Task 2.2: Developed a Scenario Catalogue, evaluating scenarios for geothermal integration. Achievements: detailed Scenario Catalogue
Task 2.3: Organized meetings, developed fact sheets, created databases for geothermal potential assessments. Achievement: comprehensive resources for analysis.
Task 2.4: Prepared geographical datasets for Bavaria, enhancing practical project outcomes.
Task 2.5: Conducted studies on business models, financing, policies, and community engagement. Achievement: comprehensive reference database.
WP3 Designed and developed tools for geothermal planning and investment. Achievements: SAPHEA toolbox, data integration.
Task 3.1:Designed the SAPHEA toolbox, integrating open datasets and GEOPHIRES tool. Achievements: Deliverable D3.1.
Task 3.2:Developed evaluation routines and online GEOPHIRES tool. Achievement: integrated feedback for final implementation.
Task 3.3:Integrated data from WP2
WP4 reviewed business models and financing mechanisms, laying a foundation for practical blueprints and strategic planning.
Task 4.1:Reviewed business models, comprehensive report (D 4.1)
Task 4.2:Mapped EU-27 financing mechanisms, etailed report (D 4.2).
Task 4.3:Developed draft blueprints for geoHC networks
WP5 Evaluated regulatory and social factors affecting geoHC networks, developing frameworks and engaging stakeholders.
Task 5.1:Developed a political readiness evaluation scheme and gap analysis
Task 5.2:Conducted literature review and stakeholder analysis
Task 5.3:Developed KPIs and a questionnaire for societal readiness
WP6 organized workshops, case study analyses, and developed strategies for stakeholder interaction.
Task 6.1:Completed analyses of six case studies
Task 6.2:Conducted surveys and evaluated results
Task 6.3:Set up planning tools for structured capacity-building activities.
WP7 established a communication strategy & setting up the Market Uptake Hub.
Task 7.1:Dissemination Exploitation, and Communication plan
Task 7.2:Created branding materials, organized events, maintained an online presence.
Task 7.3:Started designing the Market Uptake Hub
Task 1.1:Established a project office, MS-Teams platform, and organized key events and meetings. Achievements: Initial Project Implementation Plan, templates for resource control, regular budget updates.
Task 1.2: Coordinated meetings, facilitated partner communication, and managed financial controls. Achievements: structured meeting schedule, effective management of partner contributions.
Task 1.3: Established an External Advisory Board.
WP2 identified market drivers, developed scenario catalogues, and prepared datasets, laying the foundation for integrating geothermal energy into HC networks.
Task 2.1:Assessed market drivers, engaging experts for validation. Achievements: Deliverable 2.1 informing future tasks and support tools.
Task 2.2: Developed a Scenario Catalogue, evaluating scenarios for geothermal integration. Achievements: detailed Scenario Catalogue
Task 2.3: Organized meetings, developed fact sheets, created databases for geothermal potential assessments. Achievement: comprehensive resources for analysis.
Task 2.4: Prepared geographical datasets for Bavaria, enhancing practical project outcomes.
Task 2.5: Conducted studies on business models, financing, policies, and community engagement. Achievement: comprehensive reference database.
WP3 Designed and developed tools for geothermal planning and investment. Achievements: SAPHEA toolbox, data integration.
Task 3.1:Designed the SAPHEA toolbox, integrating open datasets and GEOPHIRES tool. Achievements: Deliverable D3.1.
Task 3.2:Developed evaluation routines and online GEOPHIRES tool. Achievement: integrated feedback for final implementation.
Task 3.3:Integrated data from WP2
WP4 reviewed business models and financing mechanisms, laying a foundation for practical blueprints and strategic planning.
Task 4.1:Reviewed business models, comprehensive report (D 4.1)
Task 4.2:Mapped EU-27 financing mechanisms, etailed report (D 4.2).
Task 4.3:Developed draft blueprints for geoHC networks
WP5 Evaluated regulatory and social factors affecting geoHC networks, developing frameworks and engaging stakeholders.
Task 5.1:Developed a political readiness evaluation scheme and gap analysis
Task 5.2:Conducted literature review and stakeholder analysis
Task 5.3:Developed KPIs and a questionnaire for societal readiness
WP6 organized workshops, case study analyses, and developed strategies for stakeholder interaction.
Task 6.1:Completed analyses of six case studies
Task 6.2:Conducted surveys and evaluated results
Task 6.3:Set up planning tools for structured capacity-building activities.
WP7 established a communication strategy & setting up the Market Uptake Hub.
Task 7.1:Dissemination Exploitation, and Communication plan
Task 7.2:Created branding materials, organized events, maintained an online presence.
Task 7.3:Started designing the Market Uptake Hub
The SAPHEA project integrates geothermal heating and cooling (geoHC) networks in Europe. Key outcomes include:
• Digital Market Uptake Hub: A platform with tools and information for geoHC deployment
• Decision-support tools for early-stage geoHC planning
• Ten publicly accessible geoscientific and social datasets
• Business and Financing Models: Six blueprints tailored to geoHC networks
• A digital guide for geoHC policy and investment decisions
• Policy Recommendations: Transform market barriers into enablers for geoHC adoption
Potential Impacts:
• Increased Adoption
• Fossil Fuel Reduction
• CO2 Emission Reduction
• Economic Benefits (i.e.green jobs)
• Health and Environmental Benefits
• Legislative and Market Changes
Key Needs for Further Uptake:
• Improve technology efficiency and reduce costs.
• Develop financial mechanisms and strategies.
• Assist in commercializing technologies and managing IP rights.
• Expand networks through global partnerships.
• Advocate for favorable regulations and standards.
By addressing these needs, SAPHEA aims to create a sustainable and scalable pathway for geoHC adoption, contributing significantly to Europe's energy transition and climate goals.
• Digital Market Uptake Hub: A platform with tools and information for geoHC deployment
• Decision-support tools for early-stage geoHC planning
• Ten publicly accessible geoscientific and social datasets
• Business and Financing Models: Six blueprints tailored to geoHC networks
• A digital guide for geoHC policy and investment decisions
• Policy Recommendations: Transform market barriers into enablers for geoHC adoption
Potential Impacts:
• Increased Adoption
• Fossil Fuel Reduction
• CO2 Emission Reduction
• Economic Benefits (i.e.green jobs)
• Health and Environmental Benefits
• Legislative and Market Changes
Key Needs for Further Uptake:
• Improve technology efficiency and reduce costs.
• Develop financial mechanisms and strategies.
• Assist in commercializing technologies and managing IP rights.
• Expand networks through global partnerships.
• Advocate for favorable regulations and standards.
By addressing these needs, SAPHEA aims to create a sustainable and scalable pathway for geoHC adoption, contributing significantly to Europe's energy transition and climate goals.