Guest lecture: Emmanuel Gaucher

Developing Deep Geothermal Systems in Europe: A Few Issues

Emmanuel Gaucher is Associate Professor of geothermal systems at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, invited by the research center GEC.
 

Geothermal energy can be for many countries a stable source of energy providing electricity and heat. Its contribution is estimated to 3 or 4% of the 2050 global energy need. Presently, geothermal energy is mostly produced from hydrothermal and magmatic systems where the hot fluids are extracted from permeable reservoirs. However, easily accessible resources are becoming increasingly scarce and the key to global geothermal energy development lies in the development of enhanced geothermal systems, the EGS. When the fractures are not naturally abundant or when the rock matrix is not permeable enough, hydraulic stimulations are carried out. Fluids are injected at several kilometres depth to create or reactivate fractures and faults. Such operations are intended to increase the reservoir permeability and thus to obtain flow rates of the geothermal fluids high enough for economically viable production. Consequently, EGS sites are less dependent on local (hydro) geological conditions.

Today, only few EGS sites exist in Europe, consequently, their development is promoted in order to reach the European 2020 and 2050 targets set in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. The major characteristics associated with EGS sites: large depth, hydraulic stimulation, extremely corrosive saline fluids, are sources of difficulties. It is necessary to address these issues on various levels, both economic and societal as well as scientific and technical. This conference will address the European question of EGS development as well as some of the associated issues.

Download his CV

Date : Thursday, October 4, 2018 from 12:30 to 14:00