With a long history of innovative sensor design and fabrication, this company has been engaged in a number of European consortia developing down-the-hole monitoring and data analysis systems as part of a wider programme targeting feasibility enhancements in geothermal drilling and resource exploitation. Currently demonstrated is real-time data of temperature, vibration and 3D position at the drill-head location. This is further processed to provide indications of lithology, rate-of-penetration, and drill-head wear.
Custom sensor design and fabrication is a core capability of this company, with particular experience in miniaturisation and additive manufacturing of electronic components. A background in the supply of screen-printed electronic sensing elements and sub-assemblies to the automotive industry has evolved into an innovative R and D focussed spin-off company seeking to apply decades of acquired know-how to challenges of global significance.
Geothermal energy is clearly identified as an important strategic target for decarbonization and global sustainable energy security but is known to be a high-risk investment in many geographic locations, with the drilling operation itself representing a huge cost. The platform this company is developing will dramatically increase the amount of actionable information available during drilling operations, thereby reducing the time, maintenance and costs associated with this phase of geothermal resource exploitation. Further, this reduced capital investment opens up resources previously considered marginal for economic feasibility or LCOE balance, thereby removing barriers to the development of new geothermal operations including those at lower temperatures.
The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) was revised in October 2023 to specifically align itself with the European Green Deal, REPower UE, and the Net-Zero Industry Act. Addressing policy directives to triple geothermal capacity by 2030, and the technology being highlighted as a priority in multiple EU documents, the Geothermal IWG is promoting a range of promising areas of application aimed at increasing the adoption of geothermal resource use, including power generation, district heating, mineral extraction from geothermal brines, and underground thermal energy storage. These activities and strategic directions are all targets for the geothermal well and reservoir management platform this company is developing.
They seek partners and consortia in a position to collaborate on the development and ultimate demonstration of a TRL 7-8 level implementation of their platform.
Advantages and innovation
• Targeting a high-profile application with significant EU funding potential
• Key enabling technology for an industry on the cusp of significant growth
• Significant innovative IP and technology leadership around real-time down-the-hole data acquisition during geotechnical drilling operations
• Hardware prototypes and drill-string components available
• Demonstrable system of drill-head temperature, vibration and 3D position real-time data stream and visualisation
• Successful completion of Horizon projects in which live-testing has taken place
• Results presented at Geothermal Rising Conference 2023, further paper planned for GRC 2024
• Senior management team experienced in an industry-focussed R and D environment
• Experience with innovative manufacturing techniques and miniaturisation
• In-house mechanical design and prototyping capabilities
• Capability for bespoke sensor design and fabrication
• Experience regarding mineral and raw material extraction from geothermal brine-like media
Technical Specification or Expertise Sought
They seek partners and consortia in a position to collaborate on the development and ultimate demonstration of a TRL 7-8 level implementation of their platform.