Geo-Drill

Geothermal energy is an environmentally friendly resource that has the potential to meet the heating, cooling and electricity demands of the future. However, it remains largely untapped because of expensive and prolonged drilling practices. The EU-funded Geo-Drill project aims to develop optimised drilling equipment to cut costs and increase the rate of penetration in geothermal extraction. This innovative drilling technology will combine durable mud hammers operated with bi-stable fluidic amplifiers, 3D-printed sensors and cables to enhance monitoring, and graphene coatings to improve drill resistance and lifetime. Reducing drilling costs by up to 60 %, it will motivate investment and make geothermal energy more widely accessible.

Duration: 1 April 2019 - 31 July 2023