Knowledge transfer and engagement

Introduction

Using the shallow underground for heating, cooling and thermal storage, along with the engineering required for energy transfer and district heating technologies, requires significant change to the ways we currently source and distribute our energy. The energy transition to decarbonise the heating of our buildings needs new programmes of academic and practical training as well as development of a new skills base and supply. Raising awareness, confidence and regulation of new techniques and technologies through wide engagement amongst policymakers, regulators and companies is important. Both public and social approval of technology are essential for a successful transition, including widespread use of shallow geothermal technologies such as mine-water heating and thermal storage.

Infrastructure capability

The Glasgow Observatory is a place that can be visited by the public, politicians or regulators to see what a geothermal energy scheme looks like. It can be used by academics and companies for training in monitoring, hydrogeology sampling, geothermal energy and geoengineering systems.

A suite of engagement resources is being created in collaboration with the Glasgow Science Centre. This includes a touring exhibition and educational resources for schools.

Open data to support research

Open data is available for anyone to use and examine. Given the intense public debate about future energy, it is vital that everyone who is interested can get hold of sound, impartial information about work carried out at the observatory.

Open data can also be extensively used for training and knowledge transfer.

Coming soon: virtual site tour

Summary of open data, for engagement	Available (summer 2021)	In preparation and for the future
Data release packs	Borehole and core scan data releases Surface water chemistry Soil chemistry Soil gas surveys Construction phase groundwater chemistry Hydrogeological test pumping data InSAR ground motion report Test pumping groundwater chemistry Post-drill geological models	Baseline groundwater chemistry Researcher-deposited datasets Data on flows and energy transfers from the geothermal infrastructure
Time-series datasets	Seismic monitoring data	Near-surface scanning lasers, weather station Soil gas probes Hydrogeology data loggers Electrical resistivity tomography data Distributed temperature sensing downhole (fibre-optic)

Core and rock chip samples and preserved geomicrobiology samples are also available.

Existing research and case studies

During construction of the Glasgow Observatory, site visits provided knowledge transfer and practical experiences for Gateway to Engineering secondary-school pupils and experience of borehole drilling for PhD and early-career researchers.

Research directions

Some examples of future research directions could include:

public perceptions of shallow geothermal energy and thermal storage
training courses
contribution to best practice
input to wider research on lifecycle assessments of carbon dioxide reductions from shallow geothermal, integrated or cascading thermal energy systems

Research capabilities at the Glasgow Observatory