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Project Code [RDD-00522]
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Project title
DIG: De-risking Ireland�s Geothermal Energy Potential
Primary Funding Agency
Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland
Co-Funding Organisation(s)
Geological Survey Of Ireland (GSI)
Lead Organisation
Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS)
Project Abstract
Potential deep (greater than 400m) geothermal resources in low- to medium-temperature settings remain poorly understood and largely untapped in Europe. The DIG project will explore the potential for low-enthalpy geothermal energy on the island of Ireland by means of integrating multi-disciplinary, multi-scale geophysical, geological and geochemical data analysis and interpretation. Building on tested and validated methods and the rich and diverse datasets from previous and on-going successful Irish research projects, DIG aims to (i) determine the regional geothermal gradient with uncertainty estimates across Ireland using new and existing geophysical (surface heat flow, active and passive seismics, magnetotellurics, magnetic and gravity anomalies) and geochemical-petrophysical datasets (radiogenic heat production and thermal conductivity), (ii) investigate the thermo-chemical crustal structure and secondary fracture porosity in Devonian/Carboniferous siliciclastic and carbonate lithologies within and adjacent to the Munster Basin, southern Ireland, using wide-angle seismic, gravity and geochemical datasets, (iii) identify and assess the available low-enthalpy geothermal resources at reservoir scale in the Munster Basin, i.e., Mallow warm spring case study, by joint interpretation of electromagnetic and passive seismic methods complemented by a structural geology and new hydrochemistry programme to characterise deep reservoir water composition in order to identify convective pathways and mixing zones using environmental tracers, and (iv) design and implement
Grant Approved
�775,606.00
Research Theme
Carbon Stocks, GHG Emissions, Sinks and Management Options
Initial Projected Completion Date
31/12/2023