An overlooked aquifer in the Netherlands: Medium depth geothermal potential of the Breda Formation in the Zuiderzee Low: Reservoir characterization, dynamic simulation and legislation in a medium deep aquifer

Geothermal energy in the Netherlands is growing in general, however, medium deep geothermal (200 - 1500 m depth) is lagging behind while the potential at these depths could be very high. Development is held back by little geologic knowledge of this interval as well as legislative constraints. Better understanding of the reservoir characteristics...

Geothermal mining: The potential for environmentally friendly extraction of valuable components from geothermal brines in the Netherlands

In a world transitioning towards renewable energies and lithium-battery powered cars, there has been an annual increase in demand of 6% for lithium and other rare metals between 2000 and 2008 (Stringfellow & Dobson, 2021a), and this increase in demand is forecast to continue through 2040 (Latnussa et al., 2020). Meanwhile, there is a concern...

Accelerating the energy transition: Exploring opportunities for accelerated upscaling of geothermal district heating applications in Europe

Geothermal sources could provide society with clean and renewable energy nearly eternally. Geothermal district heating, in particular, could play a significant role in the energy transition. Although the application has been implemented to some extent, further upscaling is challenging due to various economic, technical and institutional...

CO2 degassing of geothermal fluids during coreflood experiments

In the energy transition from fossil fuels to less polluting renewable energy sources geothermal energy are considered as a promising technology. Gasses such as CO2 are often dissolved in geothermal waters. With the extraction of these fluids from the reservoir, a change in pressure will occur towards the extraction well which may cause...

Understanding environmental risks related to geothermal fluids: An integrated approach from natural and social sciences in three countries

The main objective of this thesis is to understand the environmental risks related to geothermal operations. The aim is to provide an integrated approach from both natural and social sciences and to perform this in three different country settings. These countries are Indonesia, Turkey and the Netherlands and they were selected because of their...

Geothermal Energy Production From Faulted Systems with Stress-Induced Aperture Changes

Transition to cleaner energy while sustaining the heat demand necessity has always been an emphasized topic in the recent years. With the slowly declining utilization and production of natural gas in Netherlands, geothermal energy shows a promising future in providing sustainable power for heating and various applications. For majority of...

Geothermal Field Development Strategies Based on Economic and Fault Stability Analysis: A Case Study for the Delft Sandstone Area

The main objective of this thesis is to assess the combined influences of specified reservoir conditions and operational parameters on the profitability of a geothermal project and on the potential for fault reactivation. The aim is to propose potential development strategies to maximize the profitability and minimize the potential for slip and...

Proxy-model for Flow and Transport in Geothermal Reservoirs

The hot water produced from a geothermal doublet possesses energy, which once utilized, the water cools down and is re-introduced back into the same reservoir at a sufficient distance using an injector well. As cold water flows through the reservoir, it acquires thermal energy from surrounding in-situ rocks. This process recurs until a...