Periodic Reporting for period 2 - GeoUS (Geothermal Energy in Special Underground Structures)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-04-01 bis 2023-06-30
The Geothermal Energy in Special Underground Structures (GeoUS) project is focused on actual society-wide topic of energy policy and energy savings which are very important both for the Czech Republic and Europe. The GeoUS project supports research excellence in geothermal energy at VSB -Technical University of Ostrava (Czech Republic) through close cooperation with two partners from leading international counterparts at the Europea level - Fraunhofer Institute (Germany) and University of Vaasa (Finland) both of them providing wide expertise in research area of geothermal energy and other renewable energy sources.
The consortium is designed to create the best conditions for transfer and development of research strategies between partners. The partners have excellent links with businesses (large and SMEs) which is interesting for enhancing industry-academia research collaboration and also with the City Authority of Ostrava, the Moravian-Silesian Regional Authority and other authorities at national level to share the results.
The close cooperation between partners helps to increase the capacity and capabilities of VSB-TUO in geothermal energy and related areas, develops a research training framework to stimulate the transfer of knowledge and expertise across research groups and helps to follow the priorities set under the smart specialization strategy for Czech Republic 2014-20. The ultimate goal of the twinning activities is the development of multi-disciplinary research and innovation skills in the Czech Republic, focused on the fundamental and practical aspects of developing geothermal as a sustainable energy source.
The overall objectives of the GeoUS are the following:
- Transfer knowledge and build excellent research, through collaboration between VSB-TUO and two leading European institutions focused on geothermal energy.
- Increasing scientific excellence in geothermal energy and related areas.
- Improving the scientific excellence and research capacity of VSB-TUO.
- Motivation master degree students to develop their career in scientific area of geothermal energy.
- Increasing the capacity of VSB-TUO for participation in future high-quality research activities and innovation.
- Increasing VSB-TUO’s involvement in the scientific and industrial community of geothermal energy exploitation.
- Widening the visibility of VSB-TUO as a center of excellence for thermal energy.
The consortium is designed to create the best conditions for transfer and development of research strategies between partners. The partners have excellent links with businesses (large and SMEs) which is interesting for enhancing industry-academia research collaboration and also with the City Authority of Ostrava, the Moravian-Silesian Regional Authority and other authorities at national level to share the results.
The close cooperation between partners helps to increase the capacity and capabilities of VSB-TUO in geothermal energy and related areas, develops a research training framework to stimulate the transfer of knowledge and expertise across research groups and helps to follow the priorities set under the smart specialization strategy for Czech Republic 2014-20. The ultimate goal of the twinning activities is the development of multi-disciplinary research and innovation skills in the Czech Republic, focused on the fundamental and practical aspects of developing geothermal as a sustainable energy source.
The overall objectives of the GeoUS are the following:
- Transfer knowledge and build excellent research, through collaboration between VSB-TUO and two leading European institutions focused on geothermal energy.
- Increasing scientific excellence in geothermal energy and related areas.
- Improving the scientific excellence and research capacity of VSB-TUO.
- Motivation master degree students to develop their career in scientific area of geothermal energy.
- Increasing the capacity of VSB-TUO for participation in future high-quality research activities and innovation.
- Increasing VSB-TUO’s involvement in the scientific and industrial community of geothermal energy exploitation.
- Widening the visibility of VSB-TUO as a center of excellence for thermal energy.
The activities in the reporting period followed the time plan specified in the grant agreement.
Summary of main activities performed in the reporting period:
- Project launch, establishing of the project team, kick off meeting, final meeting, 7 MC meetings, 87 team meetings.
- Launch of project website.
- Organization of the Opening Conference.
- Organization of the Final Conference.
- Establishing of mentoring groups and performing joint activities.
- Organization of 8 Webinars.
- Organization of the Summer School 1 and the Summer School 2.
- 4 international internships of Ph.D. students.
- Continuous work on building scientific networks.
- Organization of 2 Research Workshops.
- Collaboration on publications in mentoring groups.
- Organization of 2 Scientific skills and knowledge training.
- Organization of 2 Generic research and innovation skills enhancement trainings.
- Preparation of the concept of public engagement with defined tasks and activities.
- Organization and realization of 7 exhibits in interactive way for public audience.
- Organization and realization of 4 hobby club courses for young generation.
- Brochure 1 and 2 in Czech and English language informing on the project topic and partners´ involvement.
- Collaboration with the SMEs.
- Set of other Dissemination and Communication activities.
Summary of main activities performed in the reporting period:
- Project launch, establishing of the project team, kick off meeting, final meeting, 7 MC meetings, 87 team meetings.
- Launch of project website.
- Organization of the Opening Conference.
- Organization of the Final Conference.
- Establishing of mentoring groups and performing joint activities.
- Organization of 8 Webinars.
- Organization of the Summer School 1 and the Summer School 2.
- 4 international internships of Ph.D. students.
- Continuous work on building scientific networks.
- Organization of 2 Research Workshops.
- Collaboration on publications in mentoring groups.
- Organization of 2 Scientific skills and knowledge training.
- Organization of 2 Generic research and innovation skills enhancement trainings.
- Preparation of the concept of public engagement with defined tasks and activities.
- Organization and realization of 7 exhibits in interactive way for public audience.
- Organization and realization of 4 hobby club courses for young generation.
- Brochure 1 and 2 in Czech and English language informing on the project topic and partners´ involvement.
- Collaboration with the SMEs.
- Set of other Dissemination and Communication activities.
The expected project results specified by the project objectives and monitored by the project key indicators were achieved.
- 18 journal articles indexed in WoS and Schopus, 14 conference papers in total.
- 8 journal articles indexed in WoS and Schopus, 5 conference papers in international authors team.
- 12 research project proposals submitted in international calls for proposals (3 accepted and in the implementation phase).
- 22 Letters of understanding
- 10 new Ph.D. students with topics in relation to the project.
Significant results not included in the project key indicators:
- Final conference GeoUS as big international event – the final conference was organized together with the biggest energy company in Saxony, Germany – eins energie. The main day conference registration includes 138 participants from 9 countries. The participants were from companies (45 %), government representatives and politics (27 %), from the scientific community (25 %).
- Based on GeoUS workshop, the cooperation between VSB-TUO and German company G.E.O.S. was established. VSB-TUO and G.E.O.S. won the tender for the solution of the problem of flooding of mining areas in the Ostrava region with regard to the possibility of using the geothermal potential of mine water announced by the state enterprise DIAMO in competition with other consortia.
- The cooperation in the field of shallow geothermal systems between VSB-TUO and the German company G.E.O.S. laid the foundation for potential cooperation in the field of deep geothermal systems.
- Based on GeoUS training, a close cooperation with NollaE company, Finland was established. NollaE is focussing on energy optimization of the buildings. A part of GeoUS team together with NollaE Finland will establish a new startup company in Czech Republic from 09/2023.
- 18 journal articles indexed in WoS and Schopus, 14 conference papers in total.
- 8 journal articles indexed in WoS and Schopus, 5 conference papers in international authors team.
- 12 research project proposals submitted in international calls for proposals (3 accepted and in the implementation phase).
- 22 Letters of understanding
- 10 new Ph.D. students with topics in relation to the project.
Significant results not included in the project key indicators:
- Final conference GeoUS as big international event – the final conference was organized together with the biggest energy company in Saxony, Germany – eins energie. The main day conference registration includes 138 participants from 9 countries. The participants were from companies (45 %), government representatives and politics (27 %), from the scientific community (25 %).
- Based on GeoUS workshop, the cooperation between VSB-TUO and German company G.E.O.S. was established. VSB-TUO and G.E.O.S. won the tender for the solution of the problem of flooding of mining areas in the Ostrava region with regard to the possibility of using the geothermal potential of mine water announced by the state enterprise DIAMO in competition with other consortia.
- The cooperation in the field of shallow geothermal systems between VSB-TUO and the German company G.E.O.S. laid the foundation for potential cooperation in the field of deep geothermal systems.
- Based on GeoUS training, a close cooperation with NollaE company, Finland was established. NollaE is focussing on energy optimization of the buildings. A part of GeoUS team together with NollaE Finland will establish a new startup company in Czech Republic from 09/2023.