Enhanced geothermal systems (EGSs) allow the enormous untapped potential of geothermal energy to be put to widespread use. EGS measures aim to improve the productivity of a geothermal reservoir by increasing the transmissivity of reservoir rocks. The overall goal of DESTRESS is to optimise stimulation treatments while minimising environmental impacts such as seismic events or pollution of groundwater reservoirs. As well as controlled enhancement of the reservoir, sustainable operation also presents a challenge: newly opened fractures may close again due to reduced reservoir pressure or chemical interaction with fluid.
DESTRESS aims to demonstrate an EGS development approach taking site-specific geological requirements into account.