A team from the Spanish Geological and Mining Institute (IGME-CSIC) has been in Tenerife collecting data on the thermal properties of Canarian rocks. These measurements are being carried out at the archipelago's lithotheque, managed by the Canary Islands Government's Service for Laboratories and Construction Quality, with the aim of locating suitable sites for geothermal energy projects.
The experts, belonging to the Geonergy Research Group of Madrid and the Research Group on Extreme Geological Events and Heritage of the IGME-CSIC in the Canary Islands, seek to obtain real local values. Until now, bibliographic data from similar lithotypes from other parts of the world were used, which might not be extrapolable to the specific geological conditions of the Canary Islands.
These thermal conductivity values are crucial for selecting the most suitable areas for shallow geothermal energy and for the design of supporting infrastructure. The measurements are being performed with a portable laboratory equipped with a TPS-4 asymmetric planar heat meter and an MP-2 controller from Thermtest Instrument.
The CSIC highlights the high potential of shallow geothermal energy in the Canary Islands for air conditioning, especially in coastal areas, despite its low level of implementation compared to other Spanish and European regions.
Through studies like this, the IGME-CSIC aims to foster scientific knowledge to promote new shallow geothermal energy projects. The objective is to contribute to achieving the decarbonization targets set for 2030 by the Canary Islands Government and the central Executive.
The Canary Islands lithotheque currently houses nearly 400 rock samples from the archipelago, cataloged and stored at the facilities of the Service for Laboratories and Construction Quality in Llano del Moro, Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
