Georesources

The Earth’s subsurface contains many natural geological resources that are invaluable to the energy transition.

More
More

Subsurface storage

Geological strata provide vast energy and other types of storage space.

More
Mines
More

Risk reduction

Geoscience not only helps to decrease the environmental impacts, but also assists in reducing business risks.

More
More

Geology and Society

Wider system view is needed to encompass not only the natural and built components, such as energy resources or infrastructures, but also the societal and institutional elements.

More
More

Our research

Geoscience has an important role to play in supporting the energy transition and delivering on net-zero and net-negative carbon goals. The subsurface provides a storage space for excess energy, in the form of heat and power, and exploitable resources that can support low carbon technologies. Many alternative energy technologies, such as wind power, are highly dependent on effective characterisation of the subsurface to improve engineering design and reduce risk. But geosciences don’t act in isolation: successful implementation of geological energy systems depend on the wider support within society to make them a reality. Our research brings together geologists, engineers and social scientists to create a whole system approach to energy geosciences.

Find out how work by our academics is supporting projects and initiatives across our four research themes.
More

The infographic below provides a visual illustration of the many ways the subsurface can contribute to decarbonisation of our energy systems.

 

Infographic showing subsurface use in the decarbonisation realm. Andy Emery, 2020.