SuperHot geothermal – Integrated demonstration and Flow Testing

Conventional geothermal exploits shallow reservoirs at 2–3 km depth and 240–330 °C, while far larger resources remain untapped in superhot (>400 °C) formations. The SHiFT project will unlock next generation of geothermal energy by demonstrating, first time worldwide, sustainable power generation from superhot geothermal (SHG) reservoirs. Building on pioneering results from Iceland Deep Drilling Project (IDDP) and EU-funded initiatives, SHiFT will integrate advanced drilling, well completion, flow testing, and surface conversion technologies to raise SHG systems from TRL 5 to TRL 7 through a first-of-a-kind demonstration. SHiFT will validate three SHG utilisation strategies: (i) direct production of superhot fluids, (ii) reinjection into superhot reservoirs, and (iii) coupled production–reinjection supported by stimulation. These will be tested through drilling and operation of IDDP-3 at Nesjavellir and well pairs in Hengill field, ensuring full-scale demonstration under real reservoir conditions. A key innovation is drilling: SHiFT will deliver novel well designs and robust drilling strategies able to withstand extreme thermal, pressure, and chemical stresses. Building on AI tools from OptiDrill, it will deploy a physics-informed AI drilling advisory system and real-time AI magma-proximity alarm, both demonstrated with a human–machine interface under operational SHG conditions, and aligned with EU AI Act, FAIR, and GDPR. By de-risking SHG deployment and validating multiple production strategies, SHiFT will show that accessing deeper and hotter formations can yield several-fold higher output per well than conventional geothermal. This anchors European technology leadership, reduce costs, and position SHG as a competitive pillar of the EU energy mix. In line with the IEA outlook, SHiFT will provide first-of-a-kind evidence enabling SHG to contribute substantially to Europe’s electricity supply by 2050, reinforcing EU energy security, sustainability and competitiveness