Geothermal Potential in Reiche Zeche:
Leveraging Research Mine Infrastructure for Sustainable Energy Solutions
This project explores the potential of mine water energy as a renewable energy source, utilising geothermal heat from abandoned, flooded mines. By transforming these voids into ‘geo-batteries,’ it aims to store surplus heat from renewable sources like solar and wind. The research focuses on the Reiche Zeche mine, now a research and teaching facility under Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg, leveraging its extensive infrastructure and data to model applications for low enthalpy geothermal energy, similar to the Glasgow UKGEOS Cuningar Loop facility.
The project’s objectives include creating a 3D geomechanical model of the Reiche Zeche mine, simulating periodic heat storage, and generalising the methodology for other locations. Key tasks involve interpreting 3D point cloud data, conceptualising mine geometries, initialising high-fidelity models, and analysing simulations to predict temperature and strain evolution.
These steps aim to evaluate the effects of mine flooding on overburden stability and energy storage efficiency.
Data preprocessing involves gathering and cleaning point cloud data, downscaling for feature retention, and merging data for comprehensive mine structure representation. The 3D modelling phase uses tools like MeshLab and Flac3D to configure the mine’s geological and structural characteristics, with boundary conditions and rock mechanics parameters calibrated from historical data.
Simulation scenarios focus on heat flow modelling, in-situ stress analysis, and visualising results. Sensitivity analysis identifies critical limits on injectivity and heat storage efficiency by varying key parameters. The Clausthal University of Technology leads data preprocessing and model initialisation, while Heriot-Watt University contributes to geomodel coupling, scenario definition, and uncertainty quantification.
Project Owners
Ali Ahmadi
Info
Ali Ahmadi is a PhD candidate at TU Clausthal. Before, he worked as a civil engineer at Polbetton Co., Iran, overseeing major construction projects with a focus on sustainability and cost-efficiency. Moreover, he worked as a research assistant at TU Clausthal, where he developed data-driven models for geotechnical applications.
Adetomiwa Aderemi
Info
Adetomiwa Aderemi is a postgraduate research student at Heriot-Watt University, part of the Earth Materials and Processes for Sustainable Development (em-π) Research Group, and affiliated with the GeoData Science Group. With seven years of experience as a Development Geologist at Aradel Holdings Plc – Nigeria’s pioneering integrated, independent exploration and production energy
company, he has collaborated with multidisciplinary teams including Commercial Planners, Drilling Engineers & Production Technologists, Petrophysicists & Geophysicists. His career focuses on extracting subsurface insights for sustainable energy solutions, evaluating asset portfolios, maturing drillable prospects, and contributing to field development value assurance across various energy sector value chains.