Geotechnologien

Brief description:

Since 2005, the BMBF supports as part of its geo-scientific research and development program GEOTECHNOLOGIEN research projects on CO2 storage. CO2 storage in geological formations is investigated within the research theme “Investigation, Use and Protection of the Underground”. The projects are undertaken in the form of collaborations from Universities and industry and in the first phase (2005-2008) nine interdisciplinary projects with the focus on technological, ecological and economic perspectives concerning CO2 storage and monitoring in geological formations were funded with a financial volume of € 6.9 million. 12 Universities as well as 13 companies of the German energy sector were involved.

To quantify the CO2 storage potential for Germany further, a second funding phase (2008-2011) for the national R&D program “Geological Storage of CO2 in Germany” was initiated in 2007. The financial volume is € 19.6 million per year and 17 research institutions and 11 companies are involved. The main objectives are the extension of basic research on storage and surveillance technologies, complementary to the pilot projects. Basic R&D activities without site specification will be supported from 2008 with a budget of €8 million per year. Research fields include, monitoring and modeling tools, trapping mechanisms, CO2 mobility, stability and integrity of reservoir and injection wells. Site specific pilot projects as public private partnerships will be funded with € 9 million per year, starting from 2008. Activities include, the “Altmark Gasfield” as a large scale demonstration site in Northern Germany, as well as the development of other pilot projects to prove saline aquifers for CO2 storage.