Resource assessment for deep sedimentary and basement reservoirs
Funds research to develop and validate new technologies for sustainable deep geothermal energy extraction, emphasizing innovation, risk reduction, and societal engagement.
Funder: European Commission
Due Dates: August 4, 2026 (opens) | December 1, 2026 (deadline)
Funding Amounts: ~€4.5M per project (lump sum), €18M total, 4 grants expected, project duration typically 36–48 months
Summary: Supports innovative research to identify, assess, and sustainably exploit deep geothermal resources in sedimentary and basement reservoirs, emphasizing technological advances, societal impact, and community engagement.
Key Information: Requires strong integration of social sciences and humanities (SSH); proposals must address environmental and societal impacts and involve community engagement.
Description
This Horizon Europe call (HORIZON-CL5-2026-11-D3-06) invites proposals for advanced research and innovation to unlock deep geothermal energy resources in sedimentary and basement reservoirs (depths 2000–6000m). The focus is on developing and validating new methods, technologies, and models to overcome barriers like low permeability, high drilling costs, and data scarcity. Projects should deliver predictive tools and validated approaches that improve drilling success, geothermal system performance, and reduce environmental and seismic risks.
A key requirement is early, inclusive engagement with local communities and stakeholders, ensuring societal acceptance and maximizing benefits. The call mandates the integration of social sciences and humanities (SSH) expertise to address social, economic, and environmental impacts, and to foster trust and acceptance of geothermal projects.
The scope covers:
- Innovations in equipment, methods, and conceptual models for resource assessment and exploitation.
- Solutions for low-permeability and data-poor reservoirs, including Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and closed-loop systems.
- Consideration of reservoir conditions, stimulation techniques, well design, and potential co-production of raw materials.
- Validation using advanced decision and risk analysis.
- Comprehensive assessment of environmental and societal impacts, including biodiversity, pollution, seismicity, and effects on local communities.
Proposals must demonstrate clear pathways to impact, including dissemination, exploitation, and communication plans, and must comply with Horizon Europe’s ethics, gender equality, and open science requirements.
