This project recreates small-scale earthquakes in laboratory fault samples to observe fault properties and acoustic precursors. Using artificial intelligence, we develop methods to learn directly from precursor patterns to predict when earthquakes will occur.

• dr. Chong Liu

• Dr. Ivan Pires de Vasconcelos (Shearwater Geoservices)

Geothermal energy is a clean resource that underpins a decarbonised EU energy system. Both geothermal productivity and sustainability rely on connected subsurface fracture systems, so it is critical to understand how injection-induced fracture behaviour influences the reservoir circulation, thermal longevity and seismic hazards of geothermal systems. This project is an integrated geomechanical, hydrological and seismological investigation of the fundamental physics of injection-induced fracture and flow behaviour and permeability evolution in fractured hot rocks. The project aims to advance sustainable geothermal exploitation and enhance seismic hazard management to support unlocking the huge potential of geothermal deployment in the Netherlands.

• dr. Wenzhuo Cao
• Laurens Kleijbeuker MSc
• Jing Li
• dr. Mark Jefferd

• Loes Buijze

A large number of coal mines in Europe are planning mine closure and a just post-closure transition. GeoSolar aims to repurpose end-of-life coal mines as huge thermal batteries for low-carbon, high-temperature district heating, making use of mine land for solar energy installations and mine workings and goaf for thermal energy storage. This project will develop innovative coupled mine water thermal and solar energy storage systems integrated with local district heat networks. Coupled multiphysics modelling of mine water flow and heat storage dynamics will be performed to evaluate the operability and efficiency of the coupled energy storage system during seasonal mine water thermal energy storage and recovery. The deployment of the proposed system is anticipated to achieve widespread societal benefits and social impact, in terms of green energy production, decarbonisation potential, economic growth, and green job creation. The proposed system is also projected to have a huge potential for efficient uptake at European end-of-life and abandoned coal mines.

A large number of coal mines in Europe are planning mine closure and a just post-closure transition. GeoSolar aims to repurpose end-of-life coal mines as huge thermal batteries for low-carbon, high-temperature district heating, making use of mine land for solar energy installations and mine workings and goaf for thermal energy storage. This project will develop innovative coupled mine water thermal and solar energy storage systems integrated with local district heat networks. Coupled multiphysics modelling of mine water flow and heat storage dynamics will be performed to evaluate the operability and efficiency of the coupled energy storage system during seasonal mine water thermal energy storage and recovery. The deployment of the proposed system is anticipated to achieve widespread societal benefits and social impact, in terms of green energy production, decarbonisation potential, economic growth, and green job creation. The proposed system is also projected to have a huge potential for efficient uptake at European end-of-life and abandoned coal mines.

• dr. Wenzhuo Cao
• PHOPTHORN Maneepong

Earthquakes often result in damage to buildings and infrastructure and sometimes loss of human lives. Induced earthquakes due to human activities like gas extraction, are the result of fast slip on powder-filled pre-existing faults in the subsurface due to a rapid breakdown of their strength. The physical mechanisms contributing to the rapid failure remain unclear. In this project we will perform experiments at scales of a single rock grain to millions of grains combined with computer models to investigate these weakening mechanisms. Our results will help to better constrain the hazard of induced earthquakes.

• dr. Chengshun Shang

• dr. Chengshun Shang