Researchers exploring Aberdeen’s potential for geothermal heating have begun deploying a city-wide network of seismic nodes that will be used to create a 3D subsurface map.
T
he University of Aberdeen secured a £1m grant late last year for a feasibility study into unlocking a subterranean heat source.
Subject to planning consent, the project will eventually see an instrumented borehole drilled 500m down on King’s College campus, Old Aberdeen.
Each of the 100 nodes – installed across a mix of public and private green spaces – are being buried in the ground to record natural and man-made vibrations from waves, wind and traffic over the next couple of months.
Covered by a thin layer of soil, the ‘seismic noise’ each node records will help create a map of the granite and other subsurface structures to a depth of 5 km beneath the entire city.
Installed by a team of volunteers over three days, the resulting data will show where geothermal heating will work best in Aberdeen.
Dr Amy Gilligan, researcher with the Aberdeen Geothermal Feasibility Pilot (AGFP), said: “This marks the beginning of an exciting stage of the project. By placing these small sensors in the ground, we can safely and quietly listen to natural vibrations and build a picture of the rocks deep below Aberdeen.
“Most people won’t notice the sensors once they are in place, but what we learn will help us understand whether geothermal heat could one day provide a clean, local source of heating for homes and public buildings, reducing carbon emissions and support a more sustainable energy future for Aberdeen.”
The AGFP is an ambitious city-wide collaboration exploring Aberdeen’s geological potential and paving the way for low-carbon heating solutions.
Funded through a £1 million public grant from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and led by the University of Aberdeen, subject to planning consent the project will see an instrumented borehole drilled to a depth of over 500 metres on King’s College campus in Old Aberdeen.
The borehole will provide direct subsurface temperature, geology and hydrology data and provide the startling point to test the potential for heat generated by granite at depth to be used to heat homes, the University and other buildings across the city.
With all the data collected being made openly available by the team, the project will be the first to provide the in-field geological data needed to help bring the University’s ambitions and other initiatives being considered across the city and across the UK to reality.
The pilot draws on expertise from several partners, including the University of Aberdeen, NHS Grampian, the city council, and the British Geological Survey.
