Local, Stakable & Scalable
No Fracturing
As opposed to current deep geothermal technologies such as enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), EAPOSYS involves no hydraulic fracturing. Instead, it controls and optimizes geothermal heat extraction by means of closed thermo-loops deployed from a central shaft and service pipe (patent pending).
Monitorable
EAPOSYS relies on closed-loop circulation of a heat transfer fluid into grids of thermo-loops deployed at heat depth. Flow rates of the working fluid can be monitored for optimal and long-life system capacity.
Endless Use
EAPOSYS deployment at heat depth can be extended incrementally with simultaneous plant operation. The system lifetime is prolonged by limited heat extraction. At the end of one operation cycle, a thermo-loop can be put off for heat recovery before starting a new operation cycle.
RENEWABLE IS NOT ENOUGH: SUSTAINABILITY IS A MUST!
Environmental and social sustainability indicators are comprehensively evaluated and incorporated at the very inception of EAPOSYS proposal.
To mitigate climate change, most developed countries have adopted a ‘much-commented’ energy transition, aiming at implementing the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement, electrifying the world but losing the battle of reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. In 2020, new renewable still accounted for less than 5% of the total share of global energy with average GHG emission rate of 1000 tons per second.
Mainstream energy policies define energy security as the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price. Concepts of rational use of energy are preferentially marginalized, and renewable energy often assimilated to sustainability without justification.
Eaposys
Unique Closed-Loop Technology
EAPOSYS is based on multiple thermo-loops deployed at a depth of about 5 km in the hot (>150° C) granitic basement. EAPOSYS thermo-loops are drilled from a central shaft, equiped with a PATENT PENDING SERVICE PIPE ENABLING SIMULTANEOUS DRILLING; OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE of thermo-loops. This is a unique and strong economic advantage. Geothermal represents the new gold frontier. All we need to do is to start digging.
Conventional geothermal resources (highly permeable aquifer at volcanic-like temperature) are limited to geographic niches. Hence the hot dry basement rocks represent the largest potential and must be targeted for local power generation and district heating.
Current technologies for hot dry rock systems involve hydraulic fracturing to form and propagate fractures with the aim of creating an artificial reservoir to circulate hot fluids at depth, posing the risk of induced seismicity.
Due to the extremely low permeability of artificial reservoirs, combined to uncontrolled flow paths, such enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) have not proven at date the capability of creating a 5 MWel capacity plant.
Geothermal is the greatest source of renewable energy; and yet, it is the least exploited. Why are we waiting?
99% of the Earth’s mass is hotter than 1000°C, only the three first kilometers are cooler than 100°C. EAPOSYS intends to find and provide the means to develop a deep geothermal system, capable of optimized heat extraction for local electricity and heat generation over a long period of time (+50 years).