Geothermal expedition in Portugal

Socio-Financing Campaign • Student Project
Immersive training on energy and geothermal potential in Portugal in October 2023

Ten students in the Masters and PhD programs in Earth Sciences at the Centre Eau Terre Environnement of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) will carry out an immersive training on energy and geothermal energy in Portugal between October 21 and November 1, 2023. There they will join scientists from IGCP 636, a UNESCO-supported international academic initiative in the geosciences that shares our student community's interest in geothermal applications in the global energy transition.

One of the objectives of this expedition, which Professor Jasmin Raymond will be part of, is to visit exemplary sites that exploit geothermal energy. In Quebec, the use of geothermal heat pumps is still emerging. This is why most of our students’ research projects are aimed at the exploration and preliminary simulation of geothermal systems.

Portugal is endowed with many sites of geological interest and has developed diversified geothermal systems, whose use ranges from heating to electricity production. Visiting some of these sites and installations—both on the mainland and in the Azores archipelago, known for its volcanic activity—will provide insight into the possibilities and limitations of various concrete applications, gain a better understanding of the systems deployed and learn more about the challenges involved in their construction and operation. This knowledge will prove invaluable in informing their research and paving the way for new applications and innovations that are essential to our world of energy transition.

Exchanges with UNESCO’s IGCP 636 group will also allow our students to present their research to specialists and to learn more about geothermal projects and research elsewhere in the world. The expedition will also be an opportunity to develop links with scientists at the local University of Coimbra.

“This project is a great opportunity to gain skills and knowledge, not only in the field of geothermal energy, but also in all the logistics of such a large international exchange project. My greatest motivation is to be part of the team that makes this adventure a reality, with the idea of being able to contribute to the programming of a stay that is difficult to forget.”
—Samuel Lacombe, master’s student in Earth sciences

Your donations will help cover some of the costs incurred by our students who will be taking part in the expedition. Their goal is to raise $10,000. You can help them make their project a reality by participating in this socio-financing campaign. For more information about this international expedition and to follow the itinerary of our students, visit the website.

Thank you for supporting our next generation of scientists and for promoting the advancement of geothermal energy in Quebec.

A heartfelt thank you to all those who contributed to this campaign: Groupe Puitbec • and the individuales listed below: