a ruhrvalley SME-Project
GeoSmaGriR
Geomechanical integrity of heat stores in mines
GeoSmaGriR is short for Smart Solar Geothermal Energy Grid Ruhr. It ddescribes the prototyp of a smart and heat network, that stores seasonal excess heat in disused mines. The goal of the SME-project is to predict the geomechanical behavior of the subsurface.
Starting point
The central aspect of the foundation project “Smart Geothermal Energy Grid Ruhr”, or GeoSmaGriR, is the storage of seasonal excess heat from district heating networks in mining buildings of disused coal mines in the Ruhr region. The seasonal supply of heat in and extraction of heat from underground storage results in a cyclic thermal load on the reservoir rocks, which needs to be studied in order for the heat storage to be used safely.
Our Solution
The reliable geoscientific forecasting of long-term reservoir integrity and the prognosis of geomechanical behaviour of the subsurface during heat storage are indispensable for the safe use of the heat storage facility, and thus the topmost objective of the SME project. For this purpose, fully coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical numerical simulations on a large scale are calculated. The geothermal systems simulations are based on the finite element method and provide information on the heaving and sinking of the Earth’s surface that helps locate possible geomechanically critical spots in the subsurface, as well as the reactivation potential of existing disturbances.
Funding ID
13FH0K01IA
Supported by Federal Ministry for Education and Research
Project Duration
2017 – 2019
Key Areas
- Development of a concept for the integration of solar and geothermal energy into the heating network
- Modeling of the mine heat storage
- Numerical simulations
- Implementation of software-technical aspects in the overall system
Projektpartner
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10.07.2025
Throwback: InnovationMeetUp – 10.07.2025
From vision to financing
On 10 July 2025, our InnovationsMeetup on the topic of ‘From vision to financing’ took place in the inspiring location ‘Zum Kuhhirten’ in Bochum’s city centre – organised together with the Bochum Economic Development Agency.
One highlight of the evening was the exciting keynote speech by Jörg Gudat from Labs.Ruhr, who provided valuable insights as an experienced investor: How do you target investors? What prerequisites should start-ups have? And when is the right time for financing? His practical tips provided the participants with important ideas.
Afterwards, two start-up teams, Evovell and Roadstory, presented their business ideas in short, convincing pitches.
The evening offered not only informative impulses, but also plenty of opportunity for personal discussions over cold drinks and pizza – ideal for making contacts and expanding networks.
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