The Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) has announced that a seismic survey has been planned to take place in early 2027 to characterize the subsurface in Dublin and aid in evaluating the potential for geothermal heating in the city. A request for tenders from experienced contractors for the project has already been published, and the final route for the survey will be published in late 2026.
Plans for the Dublin Seismic Survey were announced during the European Geothermal District Heating and Cooling Days 2026, held in Dublin and organized by the Geothermal Association of Ireland and the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC).
“I am delighted to welcome initiatives such as the Dublin Seismic Survey, which will help us to understand how much deep geothermal energy is available beneath our feet,” said Minister for Climate, Energy, and the Environment Darragh O’Brien during the event.
“Dublin city has some of the highest heat demand in the country and is a prime area for the roll out of district heating networks that can serve the many hospitals, schools, universities, and housing developments that coexist here. So far, the area also looks to be very promising for deep geothermal energy, which could be a very stable and secure part of our future energy systems.”
The seismic reflection survey will build upon previous research to reduce uncertainty and support future geothermal exploration. All data from the survey will be publicly available and will help to inform future development of geothermal energy in Ireland. The goals of the seismic survey include:
- Increasing understanding of the limestone Dublin Basin
- Identifying potential deep geothermal reservoirs
- Mapping geological structures in the rock
- Supporting future geothermal development by reducing subsurface uncertainty
- Improving knowledge of Ireland’s geology
To better understand the deep geothermal potential across Ireland, there are also plans to conduct more seismic surveys. The Dublin Seismic Survey will thus also demonstrate best practices in urban data collection for deep geothermal developments. Learnings from the Dublin Seismic Survey will inform the planning and delivery of similar surveys in the future in other parts of Ireland.
