Results from ENGINE (ENhanced Geothermal Innovative Network for Europe)

In the past two years and half, the ENGINE European project aimed to coordinate the efforts of those involved in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) development. The main product of ENGINE is a handbook defining best practices and proposing a road map for future demonstration projects. The enhancement challenge requires the development of innovative methods for exploring, developing and exploiting geothermal resources that are not economically viable by conventional methods. This definition embraces different methods for enlarging access to heat at depth in order to provide continuous base load-power and to contribute to reach the target of the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (i.e. 20% renewable market penetration in 2020). It is important on the one hand to evaluate the investment and the expected savings on cost operation for each R&D initiative and industrial project. On the other hand, it must be demonstrated that geothermal energy can contribute to achieving the goals defined in the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan through EGS demonstration projects. The active ENGINE task force is motivated to develop EGS at the European scale, willing to work within the international community, and also eager share information about geothermal energy.