Imagine drilling several kilometers into the Earth where rocks are incredibly hot — up to 550°C — and then cracking those rocks open so you can pump water through them and harvest the heat. That's Enhanced Geothermal Systems, or EGS. The problem is that every underground site is different, so what works in Iceland's volcanic terrain won't necessarily work beneath France's river valleys. DEEPEGS tested drilling and rock-stimulation techniques at three very different sites across Europe to prove that deep geothermal energy can work almost anywhere, not just where volcanoes happen to be.
Europe has massive untapped geothermal heat beneath its surface, but most of it sits in rocks with poor natural water flow — you can't simply pump water through them. Traditional geothermal works only where nature provides the right conditions, leaving most of the continent's deep heat stranded. Companies and utilities that want reliable, weather-independent renewable energy have few proven options for accessing these deep resources safely and economically.
DEEPEGS delivered two physical demonstrations: the Reykjanes RN-15 EGS Demonstrator in Iceland (accessing reservoirs at up to 550°C in volcanic rock) and a mud hammer drilling tool test at a real well site in Alsace, France. Across 25 deliverables, the project produced a validated set of stimulation technologies, seismic risk management protocols, and business case models for deploying EGS across three different European geology types.
If you are a geothermal energy developer struggling to find sites with natural underground water flow — this project demonstrated stimulation technologies at three different geology types, including reservoirs reaching 550°C in volcanic environments and 220°C in rift basins, proving EGS can deliver power even where natural permeability is low.
If you are a district heating provider looking for a baseload renewable heat source that runs 24/7 regardless of weather — DEEPEGS demonstrated deep geothermal reservoir access in the Upper Rhine Graben at temperatures up to 220°C, a geology that extends across central Europe, opening new sites for reliable heat supply.
If you are a drilling services company looking to diversify beyond oil and gas — DEEPEGS tested and demonstrated advanced tools like the mud hammer for deep geothermal wells, validated across different geological conditions, creating a proven toolbox you can offer to geothermal clients.
The project data does not include specific deployment cost figures. Deep geothermal drilling is capital-intensive, but DEEPEGS focused on reducing risk by validating stimulation techniques across three geology types, which helps de-risk investment decisions. Contact the consortium for site-specific cost modeling.
Yes. The project explicitly targeted TRL 6-7 and aimed to bring EGS-derived energy routinely to market exploitation. Three of the five energy companies in the consortium already deliver power to national grids from geothermal resources, demonstrating that the underlying technology operates at commercial scale.
DEEPEGS was a publicly funded EU Innovation Action with 13 partners across 5 countries. IP generated would typically be shared among consortium members under Horizon 2020 rules. Businesses interested in licensing specific tools or methods should contact the coordinator HS Orka or relevant technology partners.
The project explicitly addressed seismic risk management as a core topic, developing risk analysis and hazard mitigation plans. Social acceptance and safety were built into the business case development, not treated as an afterthought. This means tested risk protocols are available for new deployments.
Based on available project data, DEEPEGS ran from December 2015 to April 2020 to complete demonstrations at three sites. Individual well stimulation timelines are not specified, but the project delivered 25 deliverables including two physical demonstrations — the Reykjanes RN-15 EGS Demonstrator and a mud hammer tool test.
No — that is precisely the point of DEEPEGS. They demonstrated EGS in three different geologies: volcanic environment at Reykjanes (up to 550°C), deep rift basin at Vendenheim in the Upper Rhine Graben (up to 220°C), and additional sites within the 1100 km European Cenozoic Rift System. This proves applicability across diverse European geology.
The consortium includes 3 research organizations and 3 universities alongside 6 industry partners — 5 of which are energy companies with hands-on geothermal experience. The coordinator HS Orka is an Icelandic SME already operating geothermal plants. They can point you to the right expertise.
The DEEPEGS consortium is strongly industry-driven: 6 out of 13 partners (46%) are from industry, including 5 energy companies — and 3 of those already sell geothermal power to national grids. The coordinator, HS Orka from Iceland, is an SME with operational geothermal plants, which means the project was led by a company that actually produces and sells geothermal energy, not a research lab. With partners across 5 countries (Germany, France, Iceland, Italy, Norway) and a mix of 3 universities and 4 research organizations backing the industrial partners, this consortium was built to move technology from demonstration to market. The 2 SMEs in the group add agility, while the enterprise energy companies provide the infrastructure and capital to deploy at scale.
HS Orka HF is an Icelandic geothermal energy company (SME) — search for their contact through their corporate website or LinkedIn
Want to connect with the DEEPEGS team to explore EGS deployment at your site? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the right consortium partner for your geology and business case.
