Imagine using a high-powered laser to melt a deep hole in the earth, then instantly freezing the walls into a glass-like waterproof tube. This creates a giant underground radiator that can pull heat from the earth without needing to pump water through the rock. It allows us to get clean energy from almost anywhere, even in hard rock where traditional drilling fails.
Traditional geothermal energy is limited to specific geographic areas with natural heat and permeable rock. Deep drilling in hard rock is often too expensive or technically impossible using mechanical bits.
A laboratory setup including sensors for temperature, humidity, and pressure, and a technical framework for laser and gas supply to test rock vitrification.
If you are a heating provider dealing with high fuel costs in areas without natural hot springs — this project developed a U-tube system that reaches depths over 4 km to extract heat. This allows for decentralized thermal energy production in previously uneconomic locations.
If you are a drilling company dealing with the wear and tear of hard rock excavation — this project developed a laser drill head combined with cryogenic gas. This technology melts and vitrifies rock to create waterproof, non-cracked conduits.
If you are a power plant operator dealing with the intermittency of wind and solar — this project developed a closed-loop geothermal exchanger. This provides a stable, demand-oriented alternative for power production and energy storage.
Based on available project data, specific cost figures and pricing models are not provided.
The project focuses on laboratory creation of a vitrified U-tube and modelling of exploitation potential, meaning it is not yet at industrial scale.
Based on available project data, there is no specific information regarding patent filings or licensing terms.
The project includes an evaluation of legislative aspects and environmental standards related to the proposed laser and cryogenic drilling innovation.
The project period runs from 2022-03-01 to 2025-10-31, focusing on laboratory setup and modelling.
The consortium is well-balanced for a high-risk tech project, featuring 7 partners across 4 countries. With an industry ratio of 43% and 3 SMEs involved, there is a strong link between academic research (2 universities, 2 research centers) and commercial application, led by an Italian SME.
Contact R.E.D. SRL in Italy
Contact us to explore licensing opportunities for laser-cryogenic drilling tech.
