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TRANSGEO

Project overview

Transforming abandoned wells for geothermal energy production

The fossil fuels industry is declining in central Europe and leaves behind countless gas and oil wells. The TRANSGEO project is turning this environmental problem into an opportunity: it investigates the potentials of such abandoned infrastructures for producing and storing green geothermal energy. The partnership develops a transnational strategy and regional action plans to give a second life to the wells and tests their repurposing potential in local pilot actions.

2,61m €

Project Budget

80%

of the Budget is funded by ERDF

Layer 1

5

Countries

8

Regions

11

Partners

2

Pilots

Duration

Start date

End date

Project progress

19%

About the project

Large amounts of oil and gas were produced in Central Europe from thousands of deep wells, but after decades of production many of the hydrocarbon wells are abandoned or must soon be abandoned. The declining hydrocarbon industry leaves behind an enormous infrastructure and thousands of highly skilled workers, especially in rural areas facing multiple economic and social challenges. Instead of abandoning unused wells, they can be used for geothermal energy production and heat storage to support local communities and industries in the energy transition. However, this potential is largely underutilised due to economic uncertainties and non-technical barriers. The overall objective of TRANSGEO is to enable a structural change from a fossil-fuel producing hydrocarbon industry towards sustainable green energy provision from geothermal energy sources within Central Europe with focus on rural areas. Our approach of applying established geothermal technologies and workflows to the conditions of existing hydrocarbon infrastructure and matching it with local energy demand and heating networks is highly innovative. The main outputs include a transnational well repurpose potential assessment, site-specific feasibility studies, validated well repurpose methodologies, a web-based tool for assessment of well repurpose potential, and a transnational strategy and action plan.

Project partnership

Project partners

Deutschland (DE)

Lead partner

Helmholtz-Centre Potsdam German Research Centre for Geosciences

Department Geosystems, Section Geoenergy
Address
Telegrafenberg -
14473 Potsdam
Country
Germany (DE)
Web
www.gfz-potsdam.de

Project partner

Geological Survey
Address
Inselstraße 26
03046 Cottbus
Country
Germany (DE)
Web
https://lbgr.brandenburg.de/lbgr/de/
Total partner budget
304,401 €
Address
Bahnhofstraße 8
30159 Hannover
Country
Germany (DE)
Web
https://oneo.eu/
Total partner budget
49,497 €
Department of Hydrogeology & Geothermal Energy
Address
Neulinggasse 38
1030 Wien
Country
Austria (AT)
Web
www.geosphere.at/
Total partner budget
304,996 €
Address
Kellerberggasse 9/C29
1230 Vienna
Country
Austria (AT)
Web
https://www.greenwell.energy/
Total partner budget
109,194 €
Address
Rákóczi u. 13/B. 1/8.
7621 Pécs
Country
Hungary (HU)
Web
www.crost.hu
Total partner budget
276,458 €
N/A
Address
Vasvári P u 4
7622 Pécs
Country
Hungary (HU)
Web
https://international.pte.hu/
Total partner budget
240,786 €
Address
Tartsay Vilmos utca 3
1126 Budapest
Country
Hungary (HU)
Web
http://www.bvh.hu
Total partner budget
49,980 €
Međimurska energetska agencija, društvo s ograničenom odgovornošću za promicanje i unapređenje poslova vezanih uz obnovljive izvore energije i energetsku učinkovitost u Međimurskoj županiji
Address
Bana Josipa Jelačića 22
40000 Čakovec
Country
Croatia (HR)
Web
www.menea.hr
Total partner budget
227,027 €
Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering and Energy
Address
Pierottijeva 6
10000 Zagreb
Country
Croatia (HR)
Web
https://www.rgn.unizg.hr/en/
Total partner budget
203,464 €
Address
Martjanci 36
9221 Martjanci
Country
Slovenia (SI)
Web
www.lea-pomurje.si
Total partner budget
254,797 €

Roadmap

1

Our challenge

TRANSGEO investigates the potential of old hydrocarbon infrastructure for producing/storing geothermal energy.

2

Our solution

TRANSGEO will develop a transnational strategy and action plan to give a second life to the wells and tests their repurposing potential in local pilot actions.

News

Interest in project

P2 Green

NEWS

28.11.2023

Interest in project

TRANSGEO is generating a great deal of interest from companies, universities, research centres, and community organisations!

Kick-off meeting

P2 Green

NEWS

25.09.2023

Kick-off meeting

The Kick-off Meeting of TRANSGEO project took place in the beginning of May 2023 in Potsdam.

Events

The German Geothermal Congress 2023

P2 Green

EVENT

Germany

In Person

17 - 19.10.2023

The German Geothermal Congress 2023

The EU co-funded project TRANSGEO will be presented at the Germany's largest geothermal energy congress in Essen, Germany on Wednesday, 18th October at 4:10pm. Project aims to investigate how abandoned wells and infrastructure from declining oil and gas production can be used for geothermal applications. You are welcome!

Pilot actions

Project videos

TRANSGEO

The project lead partner is responsible for the content of this project website.

Project on social media

Project Contacts

Project Manager

Hannes Hofmann
Phone: +49 331 6264 28739

Finance Manager

Julie Friddell
Phone: +49 331 6264 3058

Communication Manager

Jasmina Perkič
Phone: +386 (0)2 538 13 57