Enhanced Geothermal Systems and Green Geo-Energy Storage
A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "H2: Geothermal".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 September 2025 | Viewed by 849
Special Issue Editors
Interests: crustal stress field; rock mechanics; earthquakes and geodynamics; enhanced geothermal system (EGS); underground energy storage
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: THMC multiphysics coupling; fault reactivation; CCUS; EGS
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Background and Scope
There is an urgent need to decarbonize energy systems and stabilize renewable-dominated grids, thus demanding innovative subsurface solutions. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGSs) and green geo-energy storage—encompassing thermal, hydrogen, compressed air, and underground pumped storage hydropower (UPSH)—are pivotal for achieving sustainable energy resilience. EGSs unlock geothermal potential in low-permeability formations through engineered reservoirs, while geo-energy storage leverages geological formations for scalable, low-carbon energy buffering. Critically, the success of these technologies hinges on advancements in rock mechanics and geomechanics, which govern subsurface stability, fracture dynamics, and reservoir efficiency.
This Special Issue explores the integration of EGSs and geo-energy storage, emphasizing rock/geomechanical innovations, hybrid system design, and sustainable deployment strategies to address energy intermittency and grid flexibility.
Topics of Interest
We welcome contributions on cutting-edge developments including but not limited to the following:
- Enhanced Geothermal Systems:
- Hydraulic/thermal stimulation mechanisms and fracture network optimization.
- Reservoir stress evolution and induced seismicity mitigation.
- Rock–fluid interactions under high-temperature/pressure conditions.
- Green Geo-Energy Storage:
- Underground Pumped Storage Hydropower (UPSH): Site selection, cavern stability, and geotechnical challenges in porous/fractured reservoirs.
- Thermal energy storage in bedrock formations and hydrogen/compressed air storage in depleted reservoirs.
- Hybrid Systems:
- Synergies between EGSs and UPSH for combined power generation/storage.
- Coupling EGS with wind/solar to optimize subsurface energy cycling.
- Geomechanical Sustainability:
- Long-term impacts of cyclic loading on reservoir integrity (e.g., from repeated energy injection/extraction).
- Rock mass characterization for multi-purpose subsurface utilization.
- Policy and Economics:
- Techno-economic models for co-located EGS-storage projects.
- Regulatory frameworks addressing geomechanical risks and land-use conflicts.
Dr. Chongyuan Zhang
Prof. Dr. Quan Gan
Dr. Jiamin Wang
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGSs)
- underground pumped storage hydropower
- green energy storage
- renewable energy integration
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