GEOTHERMAL SYNERGY: ENHANCING INDUSTRIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY THROUGH STEAM HIGH-TEMPERATURE HEAT PUMPS AND HEAT-POWERED COOLING SYSTEMS WITH OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY AND PUBLIC TRUST

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The GEOSYN aim to validate a groundbreaking geothermal steam heat pump coupled with heat-powered refrigeration systems for industrial applications, specifically for the cascading use of heat from deep or shallow rock formations. The solution prioritises environmental sustainability, utilising water as the working fluid in all sub-systems, and anticipates improvements in cost-efficiency for geothermal application developments. The solution aims to facilitate the exploitation of geothermal energy sources in regions with or without significant hydrothermal reservoirs, seamlessly integrated with the industrial context and demonstrating versatility for widespread adoption. The expected outcome is a substantial increase in the deployment of geothermal resources for heat and cold generation, offering reduced environmental impact and enhanced economic attractiveness compared to the use of fossil fuels or electricity from the grid. The envisioned design is a flexible solution capable of delivering stable and cost-efficient energy tailored to the specific site and application. The solution is planned to be integrated with other renewable sources to enhance power supply reliability and grid stability. The GEOSYN will act to increase the awareness of the civil society on geothermal energy and will engage with policy makers to include the deployment of geothermal in local, regional and national policies. In addition, it will demonstrate the affordability of geothermal heating and cooling uses for productive processes, with existing examples and demonstration of the benefits of using the GEOSYN technology in industry increasing trust. The GEOSYN consortium consists of 10 organisations from 5 European countries (Italy, Denmark, France, Norway, Ukraine) representing different levels of geothermal maturity and with extensive experience in the sector, both from the technological and social sciences point of view.