A call for proposals has been opened for an EU funding call for advanced methods, models, and technologies to improve understanding and predictive capabilities for geothermal resource exploitation in deep sedimentary or basement reservoirs. Submission of proposals for the funding call is open until 1 December 2026.
Those who wish to submit a proposal may do so via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
Major exploration challenges relate to predicting deep sedimentary and basement reservoir structures and properties to identify suitable locations for reservoir-independent approaches, capable of overcoming the low permeability obstacle, such as Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) or closed-loop geothermal systems.
The scope of the call for proposals covers advanced methods, technologies and conceptual models, for different geological settings, to identify suitable conditions for geothermal resource exploitation, tackling the issue of data scarcity and leveraging the information available. The proposals are expected to contribute to the assessment of environmental and social impacts and to unlock geothermal resources marked by low natural permeability at depths between 2000-6000m. Activities are expected to achieve TRL 4-5 by the end of the project
The proposals are expected to take into account the impact of reservoir conditions and parameters (i.e. in-situ stress, temperature, geo-mechanical, chemical properties) on the development and performance of the geothermal resources, covering, when relevant, aspects such as the suitability for different stimulation techniques, well designs and completion technologies, the possibilities for the coproduction of raw materials, wellbore stability.
To ensure trust building and communities’ support, partners are expected to practice inclusive societal engagement, which is early, continuous, and sensitive to the technical specificities (e.g. impact on biodiversity, water balance, pollution, land occupation, visual impact, noise as well as geo-mechanical changes (e.g. seismicity) and underground changes (e.g. disturbance of non-targeted aquifers)) that could affect local communities and ecosystems.
Source: European Commission
