DESTRESS · Project

Safer Geothermal Drilling That Avoids Earthquakes and Public Backlash

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destress-h2020.eu

Imagine you want to tap into the Earth's underground heat for energy, but every time you crack open the rock to let hot water flow, you risk triggering small earthquakes — and angry neighbors. DESTRESS figured out gentler ways to open up underground rock formations, borrowing tricks from the oil and gas industry but adapting them so they cause minimal shaking. They tested these "soft stimulation" methods at real geothermal sites across Europe and South Korea, on different rock types like granite and sandstone. The goal: make geothermal energy commercially viable without the seismic headaches that have shut down projects in the past.

By the numbers

consortium partners across the project

countries represented in the consortium

industry partners involved in development and testing

total deliverables produced

dedicated demonstration deliverables at real geothermal sites

42%

industry participation ratio in the consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Geothermal energy is one of the few renewable sources that provides reliable baseload power, but unlocking underground heat reservoirs often triggers induced earthquakes — leading to project shutdowns, permit denials, and public opposition. Traditional stimulation techniques borrowed from oil and gas carry the stigma of 'fracking' and real seismic risks. Companies investing in geothermal need proven methods that open up rock formations for heat extraction without causing damaging seismic events or regulatory roadblocks.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered demonstrated soft stimulation techniques for enhanced geothermal systems, tested at real sites across multiple geological settings (granites, sandstones). Key outputs include a multi-stage reservoir treatment demonstrated at Haute-Sorne/Bedretto and cyclic stimulation demonstrated at Pohang, plus a generally applicable workflow for geothermal productivity enhancement with seismic risk mitigation built in — backed by 35 deliverables over 5 years.

Audience

Who needs this

Geothermal power plant developers facing permit challenges due to seismic riskOil and gas companies transitioning drilling operations to clean energyDistrict heating utilities looking for fossil-free baseload heat sourcesGeothermal drilling service companies seeking safer stimulation methodsMunicipal governments evaluating deep geothermal for urban energy supply

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Geothermal Energy Development

enterprise

Target: Geothermal power plant developers and operators

If you are a geothermal energy developer struggling with permit delays and public opposition due to seismic concerns — this project demonstrated soft stimulation techniques at multiple real-world sites that minimize induced seismicity. Their workflow covers granites, sandstones, and other rock types, meaning it applies to most European geological settings. With 19 consortium partners including 8 industry players, the methods have been validated beyond the lab.

Oil and Gas Transition

enterprise

Target: Oil and gas companies diversifying into renewables

If you are an oil and gas company looking to repurpose your drilling expertise and workforce for clean energy — DESTRESS adapted stimulation methods from your sector specifically for geothermal reservoirs. The project delivered business cases with cost and benefit estimations for enhanced geothermal systems. This gives you a tested playbook to enter geothermal without starting from scratch.

District Heating Utilities

mid-size

Target: Municipal utilities and district heating providers

If you are a district heating provider seeking to replace fossil fuel boilers with a baseload renewable source — this project demonstrated long-term energy production performance at multiple geothermal sites. Their soft stimulation approach addresses the biggest barrier to urban geothermal: the risk of induced seismicity near populated areas. The methods were tested across 7 countries with results applicable to diverse European geology.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does 'soft stimulation' cost compared to conventional geothermal stimulation?

The project developed business cases with cost and benefit estimations based on proven system performance changes, but specific cost figures are not published in the available data. Contact the consortium for site-specific cost comparisons.

Can these methods work at industrial scale for commercial power generation?

Yes — this was an Innovation Action focused on real-site demonstration, not lab research. Deliverables include demonstration of multi-stage reservoir treatment and long-term energy production performance at sites including Haute-Sorne (Switzerland) and Pohang (South Korea). The methods were tested on granites, sandstones, and other rock types representative of large parts of Europe.

Who owns the IP and how can we license these techniques?

The consortium of 19 partners across 7 countries jointly developed the results. IP is likely shared among partners including GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum (coordinator) and 8 industry partners. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated directly with the relevant consortium members.

How does this address regulatory concerns about induced seismicity?

The project specifically developed stimulation concepts for mitigation of damaging seismic effects, directly addressing the public debate around 'fracking.' The environmental footprint of both treatments and long-term site operation was monitored and controlled. This gives regulators and permit authorities documented evidence that geothermal can be done safely.

How long has this been tested and what is the track record?

The project ran for over 5 years (2016-2021) and produced 35 deliverables including 2 dedicated demonstration deliverables. Long-term performance of energy production was specifically measured and documented at multiple sites, providing a real operational track record rather than short-term lab results.

Can this be integrated into existing geothermal operations?

The project produced a generally applicable workflow for productivity enhancement measures, designed to be adapted to different geological settings. Since the methods were adapted from oil and gas sector techniques, they are compatible with standard drilling and stimulation equipment already used in the industry.

Consortium

Who built it

The DESTRESS consortium is unusually strong for business relevance: 8 out of 19 partners (42%) are from industry, including both large energy suppliers and SMEs actively developing their own geothermal sites. This means the technology was shaped by commercial needs, not just academic curiosity. The 7-country spread (including Germany, France, Netherlands, UK, Switzerland, South Korea, and Lithuania) ensures the methods were tested against diverse regulatory environments and geological conditions. With 6 universities and 5 research organizations backing the science, and the prestigious GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum coordinating, the results carry serious technical credibility. The inclusion of South Korean partners also signals international market applicability beyond Europe.

GFZ HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR GEOFORSCHUNGCoordinator · DE
NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNOparticipant · NL
ENBW ENERGIE BADEN-WURTTEMBERG AGparticipant · DE
SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITYparticipant · KR
UNIVERSITE DE STRASBOURGparticipant · FR
EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICHparticipant · CH
UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHTparticipant · NL
UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOWparticipant · UK
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSthirdparty · FR
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFTparticipant · NL
ES-GEOTHERMIEparticipant · FR

How to reach the team

GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung, Potsdam, Germany — use Google to find the DESTRESS project lead contact at GFZ

Order a report on this consortium See GFZ HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR GEOFORSCHUNG profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to connect with the DESTRESS team to explore licensing or applying their soft stimulation methods at your site? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction and help you evaluate the fit.

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