Project description
Sustainable mining of raw materials from geothermal fluids
Geothermal fluids often carry high amounts of critical raw materials (CRMs). Studies have shown that even a single well has the capacity to provide Europe with a sufficient amount of elements to cover the needs of key industry sectors. Combined extraction of heat and minerals maximises returns on investment, minimises environmental impact, requires no additional land use, has near-zero carbon footprint and eliminates dependence on external supplies. To assess the overall supply potential, the EU-funded CRM-geothermal project will enlarge an existing geothermal fluid atlas by collecting new data and sampling wells to determine their CRM content. The potential of different geological settings for combined extraction in Europe and East Africa will be evaluated.
Objective
Geothermal fluids often carry high amounts of elements that the EU considers as 'critical' raw materials (CRM). Preliminary calculations show that even a single well has the potential to produce single-digit percentages of the EU needs. Combined extraction of heat and minerals maximises returns on investment, minimises environmental impact, requires no additional land use, leaves no mining legacies, has near-zero carbon footprint, and enables domestic supplies of CRM.
To assess overall supply potential, CRM-geothermal will enlarge an existing geothermal fluid atlas by collecting new data and sampling wells for their CRM content in Europe and East Africa. The potential of different geological settings for combined extraction will be evaluated.
Extraction/separation techniques exist, but need to be adapted to the harsh conditions of such systems (high temperature, pressure and salinities). Combinations of materials and flow-schemes will be assessed at lab-scale to optimise systems for different geothermal settings and CRM.
A modular, mobile plant will be developed and deployed at existing geothermal sites to conduct pilot studies, investigating upscaling and system integration.
The technological developments will be accompanied by assessments of environmental and social impacts to ensure good governance. An UNFC/UNRMS compliant reporting template will be developed to create trust among investors, regulators and the public. The project will advance key reference points for stakeholder engagement, in order to obtain and maintain a 'social license to operate'.
Combined extraction creates new business opportunities for both SMEs and larger companies, and its economics under likely future market developments will be investigated with a view to proposing suitable business models.
CRM-geothermal will open up a potentially huge untapped resource and deploy solutions to help Europe fulfil the strategic objectives of the EU Green Deal and the Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
14473 POTSDAM
Germany
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Participants (33)
3515 Miskolc
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1000 Bruxelles / Brussel
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
1000 Bruxelles / Brussel
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38787 Santa Cruz De La Palma
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
28725 Bremen
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35122 Padova
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22339 Hamburg
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
101 Reykjavik
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35430 İzmir
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1000 Bruxelles / Brussel
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31 261 Krakow
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1000 Ljubljana
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335200 Brad
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00100 Helsinki
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10680 Athens
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04070 Kyiv
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1249 280 Lisboa
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19086 Tallin
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
06690 Ankara
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170 00 Praha
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28027 Madrid
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13124 NACKA
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1015 Budapest
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1113 Sofia
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11000 Beograd Savski
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00193 Roma
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10000 Zagreb
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1000 BRUSSEL
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2400 Mol
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00200 Nairobi
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145 61 Athina
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
85301 Schweitenkirchen
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
76133 Karlsruhe
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Partners (5)
2000 NEUCHATEL
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SN2 1FL Swindon
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TR10 9TA Penryn, Cornwall
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SW1V 3EL Falmouth Cornwall
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
CB22 5LD Cambridge
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.