A serious issue with geothermal power plants is the loss of production and decline in power plant efficiency. Scaling, also known as mineral precipitation, is one of the frequently-observed issue that causes this loss and decreasing efficiency. It is heavily observed in the production wells when the geothermal fluid rises from the depths due to a change in the fluid’s physical and chemical properties. Scaling issue in geothermal power plants result in significant output losses and lower plant effectiveness. In rare instances, it might even result in the power plant being shut down. The chemistry of the geothermal fluid, non-condensable gases, pH, temperature and pressure changes in the process from production to reinjection, power plant type and design, and sometimes the materials used can also play an active role in the scaling that will occur in a geothermal system. ICP–MS was used to evaluate the chemical properties of the fluids. On the other hand, XRD, XRF and SEM were used to investigate the chemical and mineralogical compositions of the scale samples in analytical methods. For the numerical approach, PhreeqC and GWELL codes were used to follow the chemical reactivity of the geothermal fluid in Tuzla production well. The novelty of this study is to determine potential degassing point and to characterize the mineralogical assemblage formed in the well because of the fluid composition, temperature and pressure variations. During production, geothermal fluids degas in the wellbore. This causes a drastic modification of the chemistry of the Tuzla fluids. This is why it is focused the calculations on the nature of the minerals that are able to precipitate inside the well. According to simulation results, the degassing point is estimated to be about 105 m depth, consistent with the field observations. If a small quantity of precipitated minerals is predicted before the boiling point, degassing significantly changes the fluid chemistry, and the model predicts the deposition of calcite along with smaller elements including galena, barite, and quartz. The simulation results are consistent with the mineral composition of scaling collected in the well.@en

To enhance the EU's economic autonomy, feasible options for local sourcing of critical raw materials that would allow for shorter supply routes along with ethical and responsible value chains are under contemplation. Social acceptance of mining in Europe is, however, low, and the establishment of new mining sites faces strong public opposition. Therefore, innovative solutions for the production of primary raw materials need to be developed. A new idea for raw material extraction is the extraction of essential elements from geothermal fluids.

Deep geothermal fluids, increasingly used for energy production, often contain high concen-trations of dissolved ions and gases in commercially interesting concentrations. The EU-funded project CRM-geothermal aims to develop new technologies to extract these highly relevant elements, including helium, during geothermal production cycles. In this way, an environmentally friendly and socially acceptable exploration and exploitation method could be deployed.

One aim of the CRM-geothermal project is to gain an overview of the actual quantities of critical raw materials in various geothermal fluids in Europe by taking and analyzing fluid samples. In Turkey for instance, classical high enthalpy (volcanic) systems exist, which are representative for many geothermal areas worldwide. The sites are located at the edges of tectonic plates and close to areas undergoing volcanic activity. The brines are mixed with seawater and circulate in the deeper crust.

The data publication contains analyses results of three gas samples from Tuzla, two samples from Seferihisar geothermal power plant and one sample from the Dikili geothermal field in Turkey, taken in 2023 as part of the CRM-geothermal project.@en

The EU funded project CRM-geothermal aims to establish an overview of the potential for critical raw materials (CRM) in geothermal fluids across the EU and third countries (Ref). Within this framework, the geothermal sites of Tuzla, Seferihisar and Dikili in eastern Turkey have been visited in March 2023. To estimate the potential of CRM at these sites, a comprehensive sampling program was performed. Rock samples (drill gravel) of the production borehole and scaling from gas-water separators were obtained. Furthermore, sampling of geothermal fluids (gas and brine) and precipitates (salt) along the production line was performed.
Here, the results of the geochemical analyses of solid sample materials (drill gravel, scales and salt) are presented.
All analyses were performed in the ElMiE-Lab (Elements and Minerals of the Earth Laboratory) at German Research Centre for Geosciences Potsdam, Germany (https://labinfrastructure.geo-x.net/laboratories/8). For their major and minor element compositions, bulk samples of drill gravel and scales were analyzed with XRF and ICP-MS, respectively. Salt precipitates were analyzed for dry loss and mineral composition using XRD.@en

The Balçova-Narlıdere geothermal system, located in western Turkey, is an extensional domain type geothermal play. Geological, hydrogeological, and geothermal studies have been done in the Balçova-Narlıdere geothermal field since 1960. As a result of these studies, production and research wells were drilled in the area by both the public and private sectors. Of the 37 wells drilled in the Balçova-Narlıdere geothermal field, 26 were drilled by İzmir Geothermal Energy Company Inc. (16 productions, 4 re-injection, 4 gradientst, 2 unused) and 11 by the İzmir Governorship Investment Monitoring and Coordination Department and companies in the private sectors. There are two reservoirs, one shallow and one deep, in the geothermal field. Well depths are less than 200 m in the shallow reservoir. The deep production wells have depths ranging from 400 to 1,100 m and reservoir temperatures reaching 140 °C. The electrical conductivity (EC) values in the shallow production wells range from 1,200 to 1,500 µS/cm. EC values in the deep production wells vary from 1,871 to 2,025 µS/cm, and all geothermal fluids in the field are mineral-rich waters. In the İzmir geothermal district heating system, the newest technologies are used, and operational costs are very low. İzmir Geothermal Energy Company Inc. has been operating since 1996 and has reached 38,460 residences. The current capacity of the system is approximately 160 MWt. Cooling systems continue to spread in Turkey, focusing on electric air conditioning systems and geothermal heating systems, but both economic and applicability problems have slowed the expansion of cooling systems. However, İzmir Geothermal Energy Company Inc. began operating its first geothermal cooling application in Balçova in 2018, cooling 1,900 m² of the indoor area by lithium bromide absorption and 90/85 °C geothermal temperature regime by supplying 6/9 °C clean cold water to the coolers in the buildings. These results show that the extensional domain type geothermal system in the Balçova-Narlıdere region is suitable for both heating and cooling applications.

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This Deliverable reports results for the Tuzla Geothermal Field (TGF), which is located in the western part of Turkey. In this field, there are a total of four geothermal wells (three production wells and one reinjection wells). The TGF has a binary cycle geothermal power plant. The most pressing issue in the TGF is silica-based scale. This study lists the results from analysis of physical and chemical properties of the geothermal fluid. It also includes the mineral analysis from scale samples of some of the wells of the geothermal field. Those results have been utilised in geothermometry to estimate temperatures within the TGF. Finally, mineral precipitation is investigated with a focus on silica-based scaling.@en

The Balçova-Narlıdere geothermal system, located in western Turkey, is an extensional domain type geothermal play. Geological, hydrogeological, and geothermal studies have been done in the Balçova-Narlıdere geothermal field since 1960. As a result of these studies, production and research wells were drilled in the area by both the public and private sectors. Of the 37 wells drilled in the Balçova-Narlıdere geothermal field, 26 were drilled by İzmir Geothermal Energy Company Inc. (16 productions, 4 re-injection, 4 gradientst, 2 unused) and 11 by the İzmir Governorship Investment Monitoring and Coordination Department and companies in the private sectors. There are two reservoirs, one shallow and one deep, in the geothermal field. Well depths are less than 200 m in the shallow reservoir. The deep production wells have depths ranging from 400 to 1,100 m and reservoir temperatures reaching 140 °C. The electrical conductivity (EC) values in the shallow production wells range from 1,200 to 1,500 µS/cm. EC values in the deep production wells vary from 1,871 to 2,025 µS/cm, and all geothermal fluids in the field are mineral-rich waters. In the İzmir geothermal district heating system, the newest technologies are used, and operational costs are very low. İzmir Geothermal Energy Company Inc. has been operating since 1996 and has reached 38,460 residences. The current capacity of the system is approximately 160 MWt. Cooling systems continue to spread in Turkey, focusing on electric air conditioning systems and geothermal heating systems, but both economic and applicability problems have slowed the expansion of cooling systems. However, İzmir Geothermal Energy Company Inc. began operating its first geothermal cooling application in Balçova in 2018, cooling 1,900 m2 of the indoor area by lithium bromide absorption and 90/85 °C geothermal temperature regime by supplying 6/9 °C clean cold water to the coolers in the buildings. These results show that the extensional domain type geothermal system in the Balçova-Narlıdere region is suitable for both heating and cooling applications.@en

The issue of groundwater recharge has gained importance in countries where there is not enough water supply to the aquifer. However, groundwater recharge is a difficult parameter to determine. This difficulty stems from factors such as the location of the area to be studied, time, cost, and hydrological data. Numerical, isotope, and chemical approaches are used in groundwater recharge investigations. Numerical and chemical approaches are more costly and time-consuming than chemical approaches. This study aims to ascertain alluvial aquifer recharge in Alaşehir (Manisa) sub-basin using chemical approaches (Chloride Mass Balance Method) and its applicability. For this purpose, research wells were drilled at 25 different points in the alluvial aquifer, water sampling was done in wet and dry periods, and rainwater water samples were collected. Groundwater recharge was calculated by using chemical approaches from the chloride concentrations of the water samples collected. An annual average of 74.84 mm of recharge was found in the Alaşehir sub-basin. This value corresponds to 16.38% of annual rainfall. At the same time, it was examined the groundwater and geothermal mixing mechanism to demonstrate the applicability of the Chloride Mass Balance Method. It was concluded that geothermal fluid in Alaşehir sub-basin mixed with groundwater at a rate of 17%.

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Turkey is located on the seismically active Alpine-Himalayan belt. Although tectonic activity causes seismicity in the Anatolian plate, it also constitutes an important geothermal energy resource. Today, geothermal energy production is heavily concentrated in Turkey's Western Anatolia region. Graben systems in this region are very suitable for geothermal resources. The Büyük Menderes Graben (BMG) is an area of complex geology with active tectonics and high geothermal potential power. Germencik (Aydın) is located in the BMG, where the geothermal waters include mainly Na-Cl-HCO₃ water types. This study examined the stibnite scaling formed in the preheater system of the Germencik Geothermal Field (GGF). The formation of the stibnite scaling on the preheater system dramatically reduces the energy harvesting of the GGF. Considering the stibnite scaling in the surface equipment, the optimum reinjection temperature was determined as 95 °C to prevent stibnite scaling in the GGF.

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Turkey is located on the seismically active Alpine-Himalayan belt. Although tectonic activity causes seismicity in the Anatolian plate, it also constitutes an important geothermal energy resource. Today, geothermal energy production is heavily concentrated in Turkey's Western Anatolia region. Graben systems in this region are very suitable for geothermal resources. The Büyük Menderes Graben (BMG) is an area of complex geology with active tectonics and high geothermal potential power. Germencik (Aydın) is located in the BMG, where the geothermal waters include mainly Na-Cl-HCO3 water types. This study examined the stibnite scaling formed in the preheater system of the Germencik Geothermal Field (GGF). The formation of the stibnite scaling on the preheater system dramatically reduces the energy harvesting of the GGF. Considering the stibnite scaling in the surface equipment, the optimum reinjection temperature was determined as 95 °C to prevent stibnite scaling in the GGF.@en

Turkey is located on the seismically active Alpine-Himalayan belt. Although tectonic activity causes seismicity in the Anatolian plate, it also constitutes an important geothermal energy resource. Today, geothermal energy production is heavily concentrated in Turkey's Western Anatolia region. Graben systems in this region are very suitable for geothermal resources. The Büyük Menderes Graben (BMG) is an area of complex geology with active tectonics and high geothermal potential power. Germencik (Aydın) is located in the BMG, where the geothermal waters include mainly Na-Cl-HCO3 water types. This study examined the stibnite scaling formed in the preheater system of the Germencik Geothermal Field (GGF). The formation of the stibnite scaling on the preheater system dramatically reduces the energy harvesting of the GGF. Considering the stibnite scaling in the surface equipment, the optimum reinjection temperature was determined as 95 °C to prevent stibnite scaling in the GGF.@en

In this report, the studies on geothermal fluids carried out in Turkey, France and Iceland geothermal fields are explained.@en

The issue of groundwater recharge has gained importance in countries where there is not enough water supply to the aquifer. However, groundwater recharge is a difficult parameter to determine. This difficulty stems from factors such as the location of the area to be studied, time, cost, and hydrological data. Numerical, isotope, and chemical approaches are used in groundwater recharge investigations. Numerical and chemical approaches are more costly and time-consuming than chemical approaches. This study aims to ascertain alluvial aquifer recharge in Alaşehir (Manisa) sub-basin using chemical approaches (Chloride Mass Balance Method) and its applicability. For this purpose, research wells were drilled at 25 different points in the alluvial aquifer, water sampling was done in wet and dry periods, and rainwater water samples were collected. Groundwater recharge was calculated by using chemical approaches from the chloride concentrations of the water samples collected. An annual average of 74.84 mm of recharge was found in the Alaşehir sub-basin. This value corresponds to 16.38% of annual rainfall. At the same time, it was examined the groundwater and geothermal mixing mechanism to demonstrate the applicability of the Chloride Mass Balance Method. It was concluded that geothermal fluid in Alaşehir sub-basin mixed with groundwater at a rate of 17%.@en

Scaling is frequently observed in geothermal fields and reduces the energy harvesting of power plants. Recently, Sb-rich deposits have developed in many fields around the world. Various polymeric macromolecules have been used as antiscalants to mitigate the formation of scale. Testing potential commercial antiscalants in field conditions is a tedious and costly process. The artificial synthesis of geothermal deposits in the lab is a more practical and economical way to test the performance of antiscalants. This study obtained a Sb-rich deposit by refluxing SbCl3 and Na2S·3H2O in 18 h. The product was found to be a mixture of Sb2O3 and Sb2S3. We examined the performance of antiscalants such as poly(ethylene glycol), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), Gelatin, and poly(vinyl alcohol) of various molecular weights at 5 to 100 ppm. The formation of Sb2S3 is suppressed in the presence of the polymeric antiscalants. The dosage was found to be critical for the solubilization of Sb-rich deposits. Gelatin of 5 ppm showed the highest performance under the conditions employed in this study. While low dosages improve the concentration of [Sb3+], high dosages are required to increase the solubility of [S2-]. Moreover, the amount of deposit is reduced by 12.4% compared to the reference (in the absence of any polymeric molecules). Thus, comparatively, Gelatin shows the most promising performance among the molecules employed.@en

Gediz Basin, located in the western part of Turkey constituting 2% land of the country, has an important groundwater potential in the area. Alasehir sub-basin, located in the southeast of the Gediz Basin and subject to the extensive withdrawal for the irrigation, constitutes the study area. Natural recharge to the sub-basin due to precipitation is numerically investigated in this study. For this purpose, 25 research wells, whose depths range from 20 to 50 m, were drilled to observe the recharge and collect the necessary field data for the numerical model. Meteorological data were collected from 3 weather stations installed in the study area. The numerical model HYDRUS was calibrated using the field water content data. Soil characterization was done on the core samples; the aquifer characterization was performed, and the alluvial aquifer recharge due to precipitation was calculated. As a result, the computed recharge value ranges from 21.78 to 68.52 mm, with an average value of 43.09 mm. According to the numerical model, this amount of recharge corresponds to 10% of the amount of annual rainfall.@en