Geotwins: Digital Twin Components for Deep Geothermal Energy Power and Heat Generation

Project Description

Deep geothermal energy (DGE) holds promise to become a widespread and abundant energy source for heating and power, representing a key technology in the transition to climate neutrality by 2050. However, its global adoption face challenges due to closely interrelated concerns about induced earthquakes, decreasing societal acceptance and economic viability due to inadequate production rates and high costs. Digital Twins (DTs) offer an innovative solution to optimize and de-risk deep geothermal energy generation. DTs are calibrated virtual replicas of physical systems that enable the physical interpretation of real-time monitoring data and predictive analyses using high-fidelity models to support decision-making. GEOTWINS aims to create modular and interoperable digital twin components (DTC), tailored for geothermal systems, and demonstrate them at TRL levels 7-8 in diverse operational environments. By integrating prior experience, data and physics-based models, we aim to comprehensively represent geothermal systems as calibrated and validated DTC. The DTC-based workflows can then guide operators and regulators from exploration to post-production stages. GEOTWINS will also develop open-source visualization and decision-making tools to facilitate clear communication with both the population and stakeholders. Ultimately, our objective is to create for the first time an accurate and dependable digital representation of deep geothermal reservoirs connected to real-time data flows.