Geoenergies

At the BedrettoLab, ETH Zurich investigates technologies for the safe, efficient, and sustainable use of energy in the deep subsurface, in close collaboration with national and international partners. The crystalline rock mass surrounding the laboratory provides conditions that are representative of deep underground environments, making it an ideal setting to study engineered subsurface energy systems.

Research at the BedrettoLab addresses both geothermal energy production and underground energy storage, two key components of a resilient and low-carbon energy system. Increasing the share of renewable energy is a cornerstone of the Swiss Energy Strategy 2050, and the subsurface offers unique opportunities to supply reliable heat and power as well as to store energy at large scales.

To investigate these processes, researchers conduct controlled experiments at the hundred-meter scale, including hydraulic stimulations, fluid injection, circulation, and thermal loading of the rock. A dense network of sensors installed in boreholes in and around the experimental volume allows detailed monitoring of thermal, hydraulic, mechanical, and seismic processes.