Through the research program "Transformation of the Energy System in Lower Saxony" (TEN.efzn), the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture is strengthening research into underground hydrogen storage and geothermal energy in Lower Saxony with approximately 5.5 million euros.
On October 14, 2024, in the presence of Lower Saxony's Minister of Science, Falko Mohrs, the official launch of the research program "Transformation of the Energy System in Lower Saxony (TEN.efzn)" took place, which was applied for under the EFZN - Energy Research Center of Lower Saxony by a total of 15 universities, universities of applied sciences, and non-university research institutions in Lower Saxony. The TEN.efzn research program is divided into six closely interlinked research platforms, which bring together the key strengths of Lower Saxony's energy research and, in addition, open up new innovative research areas.
With the approval of the research program, the "Geo-Energy Systems" research platform, coordinated by the Clausthal University of Technology (TU Clausthal), also began its work. In this sub-project, the use of geo-energy systems for the effective and sustainable energy supply with renewable energies will be demonstrated at the example of an existing site in the Hanover region. For this purpose, the scientific expertise of the involved institutions in the areas of exploration, modeling, development, and management of geo-reservoirs will be combined in an interdisciplinary and site-spanning team. The use of geo-reservoirs includes heat supply through geothermal energy as well as energy and gas storage in the form of hydrogen. In addition to these technical issues, the research platform also includes considerations of economic viability and risk, as well as addressing the social dynamics associated with the topic and aspects of education and training.
In total, ten professors and postdocs from Clausthal University of Technology (TU Clausthal), Leibniz University Hannover, Georg-August University Göttingen, the Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics, and ISFH – Institute for Solar Energy Research Hameln, along with their respective working groups, have come together.
With its innovative and interdisciplinary approach, the project is integrated into the strategic research agenda of the Drilling Simulator Celle, which brings together the working groups of TU Clausthal and supports collaboration with external partners with its own resources.
Further information about the project: https://www.efzn.de/nachrichtendetail/start-ten-efzn-programm
