UPLIFT aims to make deep geothermal energy safer and more predictable

A new Horizon Europe project called UPLIFT is targeting one of the most difficult questions in renewable energy: how to extract heat from deep, hot and low-permeability rock in a way that is technically reliable, socially acceptable and safe for nearby communities.

The project will run from May 2026 to April 2030 and is funded through the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme. With a total budget of around EUR 12.2 million and an EU contribution of about EUR 10.98 million, UPLIFT brings together eight partners from five countries, including research centres, universities, specialist SMEs and a European professional association.

Its field demonstration will take place at the RINGEN research site in Litomerice, Czechia, one of Europe’s leading geothermal research infrastructures. The objective is to demonstrate multi-stage Enhanced Geothermal System stimulation under European geological, regulatory and social conditions.

Enhanced Geothermal Systems aim to unlock heat from rocks that are hot but not naturally permeable enough to produce large volumes of water. The engineering challenge is to create or improve fluid pathways without generating unacceptable seismicity or environmental risk.

UPLIFT will test a combination of technologies rather than relying on a single method. These include controlled Micro Turbine Drilling, adaptive hydraulic shear stimulation, non-hazardous chemical stimulation and improved proppant placement. The project will also compare water-only and proppant-based stimulation treatments, including work at the Bedretto Underground Laboratory in Switzerland.

A key element is Micro Turbine Drilling. This technology can create small side branches from existing boreholes, increasing contact between the well and the surrounding rock. For geothermal operators, that matters because many projects underperform when production volumes are too low. Improving reservoir access from existing wells could reduce cost, shorten development time and make failed or marginal geothermal projects more viable.

The most sensitive part of deep geothermal development is induced seismicity. UPLIFT’s approach is based on adaptive stimulation, where injection parameters are adjusted continuously using real-time seismic monitoring. Instead of applying a fixed injection plan, the system responds to how the reservoir behaves during the operation.

High-fidelity digital twins and faster surrogate models will support this process. The detailed models will guide EGS design, drilling strategy and stimulation planning, while faster models will help operators make real-time decisions during field activities.

This is where the project becomes especially relevant for European deployment. Europe has significant petrothermal energy potential, but many possible sites are close to towns, infrastructure and strict regulatory environments. Technical success alone is not enough. Public trust depends on transparent monitoring, controlled risk, clear communication and evidence that seismic response can be managed before it becomes hazardous.

If successful, UPLIFT could help move deep geothermal energy from promising concept to more bankable infrastructure. It will not remove the complexity of drilling into hard rock or stimulating deep reservoirs, but it may provide a safer and more predictable pathway for using the heat already stored beneath European cities and industrial regions.