Geothermal energy extraction via EGS simulated using a thermal-hydraulic-mechanical coupling approach

Deep geothermal energy， a key renewable resource in China， is essential for energy transition and carbon neutrality through its sustainable development. Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) is an engineered system that harvests geothermal energy from low-permeability rocks 3 to 10 kilometers underground， and EGS operations involve an interaction of thermal， hydraulic， and mechanical fields in high-temperature rock matrices， affecting its design and stability. This study simulates the pressure， porosity， permeability， and temperature changes during the heat extraction from a given EGS and evaluates the fracture width's role in EGS lifespan. The results obtained are helpful for the sustainable deep geothermal energy development worldwide and promising to promote a large-scale EGS deployment.