Academics from Aberystwyth University in Wales are supporting the development of a new state-of-the-art geothermal plant in Solotvyno, Ukraine, near the border between Ukraine and Romania, as part of a team of researchers from UK, Ukraine and Poland.
They are working on the project alongside south Wales-based Rockfield Software Ltd, Ukrainian gas producer JSC "Ukrgasvydobuvannya", Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Poland’s Oil and Gas Institute, and Solotvyno Local Council in Ukraine. The project is supported by the Innovate Ukraine programme and UK International Development.
The project team is aiming for a decentralised system based on a network of small-to-medium generating capacities that are harder to disrupt as well as contributing to a green transition.
The scientists believe that new geothermal power could strengthen energy resilience and sustainable supply in Ukraine, as well as offering lessons for the UK.
Mitigating risks
Geothermal development is often slowed down by high geological risks and the long exploration phase. The team aims to speed up the process of building the pilot plant through the development of mathematical models of rock properties at a microscopic level.
The researchers will use 3D models to provide accurate forecasting and mitigate risks. They will also devise new algorithms to predict reservoir behaviour over the whole life of the plant, ie up to 30 years.
This will facilitate rapid deployment of the technology and the possibility to scale it up in geologically similar areas of Ukraine and elsewhere.
Professor Gennady Mishuris from Aberystwyth University, said, “Our aim is to revolutionise how geothermal energy is explored and deployed, specifically focusing on the rapid recovery and modernisation of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with enhanced geothermal systems.
“By combining world-class mathematical modelling with cutting-edge geomechanics and industrial expertise, we are not just solving a technical problem, we are building a decentralised, resilient, and carbon-neutral future for a nation in need.
“The project is more than a technical endeavour: it is a commitment to sustainability, social inclusion, and international solidarity. Aberystwyth University is proud to be at the helm, proving that through collaborative innovation, we can turn geological uncertainty into a stable, green, and prosperous future.”
Aleksei Karpenko, from the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, added, "This project drew on expertise that our team has developed over several decades. It combined knowledge and data dating back to the Soviet era with modern digitalisation, advanced analytical capabilities, and significant contributions from our in-house, physics-driven AI systems. The contributions of two outstanding female members of TSNUK team, Dr. Anastasia Chupryna and Dr. Mariia Kurylo, were crucial in this effort.
“I am proud that the results we delivered with our INIG colleagues have enabled our international partners to develop a comprehensive model of the thermal resources available in the region.”