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Enhanced-Geothermal-Systems (EGS), Hot-Dry-Rock Systems (HDR), Deep-Heat-Mining (DHM)

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Geothermal Energy

Abstract

Enhanced-Geothermal-Systems (EGS) use the deep underground as a source of heat for the production of electrical and thermal energy irrespective of the hydraulic properties of the deep heat reservoir. The upper continental crust is always fractured; its fracture density differs however. A saline, occasionally gas-rich fluid is typically present on the fractures. The geothermal utilization of the hot underground with low hydraulic conductivity is sometimes also referred to as “deep heat mining” (DHM). Because the continental crust is predominantly granitic or gneissic, EGS systems strongly focus on granitic heat reservoirs. Typical target temperatures for EGS systems are above 200 °C. This means that wellbores of 6 to 10 km have to be drilled in continental crust with an average geothermal gradient.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geo- and Environmental Sciences, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

    Ingrid Stober & Kurt Bucher

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  1. Ingrid Stober
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  2. Kurt Bucher
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Correspondence to Ingrid Stober .

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Stober, I., Bucher, K. (2021). Enhanced-Geothermal-Systems (EGS), Hot-Dry-Rock Systems (HDR), Deep-Heat-Mining (DHM). In: Geothermal Energy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71685-1_9

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