Field Trip 2

The Rijswijk Centre for Sustainable Geo-energy (RCSG) is a unique open innovation lab for improving geo-energy technologies to accelerate the energy transition. There is a particular focus on geothermal energy (an increasingly important renewable energy source) and subsurface storage of heat, hydrogen and CO2. The facilities are available for full-scale testing and demonstration of new drilling techniques, flow, and materials under high pressure and temperature. The center is part of TNO, the largest independent research organization of the Netherlands.

The Energy Cave, located at At the Park in Rijswijk, is a physical location where the general public, policy makers, industry and academia meet to discuss and learn more about the energy transition.

The Delft Subsurface Urban Energy Laboratory is a facility being installed based on a deep geothermal project (wells drilled in 2023), a high temperature aquifer thermal energy storage system (installed in 2024/2025), and a deep monitoring borehole (to be installed ~2027). The facility is being designed to answer key questions regarding the use of geothermal energy (primarily for heating) in the urban environment, such as the density of projects, the longevity of useful energy extraction, how to efficiently design the energy system, how to seasonally store thermal energy, and how to avoid adverse impacts.

On this field trip, you will be guided in small groups by various scientists involved to:

• Have an overview of the facility and the project objectives
• See the key locations and the site progress, with explanations of the past, current and future activities
• Visit our geoscience laboratories, our local core store, and imaging facilities
• Have the opportunity to discuss activities going on related to the energy transition.