German GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ and Dutch Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) signed an agreement for a long-term strategic cooperation in the areas of geothermal energy and underground heat storage.

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The Signing Ceremony of TU Delft and GFZ
photo: Reinhardt & Sommer/GFZ
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The Signing Ceremony of TU Delft and GFZ
photo: Reinhardt & Sommer/GFZ

The agreement was signed by GFZ board member Reinhard Hüttl (right on photo) and Phil Vardon of the TU Delft in Potsdam, Germany on 22 May.

Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima (in the back - left) witnessed the signing ceremony as part of their visit to the German state of Brandenburg. Also witnising was Brandenburg´s prime minister Dietmar Woidke (right) and his wife.

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Better tools to detect earth heat will be one of the areas for GFZ and TU Delft to cooperate on
Better tools to detect earth heat will be one of the areas for GFZ and TU Delft to cooperate on (photo: TU Delft).
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Better tools to detect earth heat will be one of the areas for GFZ and TU Delft to cooperate on
Better tools to detect earth heat will be one of the areas for GFZ and TU Delft to cooperate on (photo: TU Delft).

Mutual access to research facilities

The GFZ and the TU Delft plan a long-term strategic cooperation in the areas of geothermal energy, storage of heat and further underground storage.

This cooperation includes access to the GFZ geothermal research platform Groß Schönebeck and to a research facility on the campus of the TU Delft.

GFZ board member Reinhard Hüttl: "The GFZ and the TU Delft have been working together purposefully and extremely fruitful for more than six years. We want to solidify that and strengthen the European research into energy transition."

Upscale of geothermal energy

According to Delft professor Phil Vardon the need to upscale the industry is an important driver for the Dutch-German cooperation. "It is expensive to drill a well for a groundwater storage system. With better predictions you have fewer failures and you can use the heat in the reservoir more effectively."

Vardon mentions the plans for a geothermal well on the Delft campus that will not only provide heat to the university, but will also provide an opportunity to study the operational aspects in detail.

This news item was originally published on the website of GFZ