EnergyVille works on sustainable energy plan for Einstein Telescope

Commissioned by the Einstein Telescope EMR project office, the Flemish consortium EnergyVille is launching a comprehensive energy study on how the Einstein Telescope can use renewable energy. Professor Bart Vermang is leading this project. 

Why did the Einstein Telescope EMR project office turn to EnergyVille?

Bart Vermang: ‘With our EnergyVille partnership, which brings together Hasselt University, imec, VITO and KU Leuven, it’s fair to say that there’s a unique combination of expertise, from energy systems and infrastructure planning to sustainability and policy advice. We also have in-depth knowledge at EnergyVille about developing and integrating state-of-the-art solar panels and battery systems. In summary, we’re building on existing knowledge and infrastructure studies, but will also actively look for what’s still missing to power the Einstein Telescope.’

The study consists of four work packages. What exactly do these involve?

Bart Vermang: ‘Each of these four work packages focuses on a crucial part of the Einstein Telescope’s future energy system. In the first work package, we’re going to model the entire energy system for the telescope over the entire lifetime of the project. This goes far beyond just electricity, as we’ll include all forms of energy and also look at the impact on climate and the environment, such as the carbon footprint. VITO will be taking the lead on this. It has extensive experience in energy modelling on a Belgian, European and global scale, and knows how to apply that same expertise at the local level.’

And the second work package?

Bart Vermang: ‘In that package, we’ll analyse how to generate the electricity needed as sustainably as possible. All relevant options will be explored, from solar and wind to nuclear alternatives, and each one will be evaluated against criteria such as cost, sustainability, modularity and lack of vibration, which is a crucial factor for a gravitational wave detector. Hasselt University and imec will be taking on this task, with their solid knowledge of state-of-the-art solar panels and innovative energy solutions, among other things.’

Is it true that the third work package will look mainly at the carbon footprint?

Bart Vermang: ‘In the third package, we’ll look at how the generated energy will be distributed around the site. We want a distribution system that’s efficient, sustainable and materials-conscious. A direct current (DC) network seems promising in this context, as it can greatly reduce energy loss and material use. KU Leuven and VITO will be taking on this work package, looking at smart grid designs for a minimal ecological footprint.’

That leaves one more work package…

Bart Vermang: ‘That one concerns energy storage – essential to ensure continuity, even in case of fluctuations or emergencies. Traditional solutions such as diesel generators are out of the question. Instead, we’ll be exploring sustainable alternatives, such as battery systems and green molecules like hydrogen, as backup solutions. VITO and Hasselt University will be developing this part. By cleverly combining these four work packages, we’ll build a power supply that’s not only robust and reliable, but also fully in line with the sustainability ambitions of the Einstein Telescope project.’

How difficult is it to power an installation that is so deep underground? How do you connect such a structure to the electricity grid?

Bart Vermang: ‘In itself, it’s certainly technically feasible to power an underground facility like the Einstein Telescope. After all, we’re building on substantial existing experience with underground infrastructure. We’ll look not only at how much energy will be needed, but also at how that energy can reach the telescope in a realistic, efficient and sustainable way – even at a depth of 200 to 300 metres. Such preparation is essential for the bid book that the project office will soon deliver. With that bid book, we want to demonstrate not only that our region is a technically suitable location, but also that we’re thinking ahead in terms of sustainability, infrastructure and energy supply. Energy is a crucial factor in this story, and we’re making sure that’s all in order from the outset.’

Energy will also be needed during the construction process, of course… 

Bart Vermang: ‘Absolutely. In this study, we’ll look at the complete energy picture over the entire life cycle of the Einstein Telescope: from the construction phase, through the operational period, to demolition and landscape restoration. The construction phase, and certainly the drilling, will require significant amounts of energy, but the total operational phase of no less than 50 years shouldn’t be underestimated either. It’s therefore crucial to understand as well as plan for both. What’s also important to us is that the site should be able to be returned to nature at the end of its service life.’

When will the results of your study be known?

Bart Vermang: ‘We’re now working step by step towards the Einstein Telescope EMR project office’s bid book, which should be ready by the end of 2026. That document will be crucial in convincing the rest of Europe that our region is the most suitable and forward-looking location for the Einstein Telescope, especially in terms of energy supply. But that’s not all. In parallel with this study, we’re also launching four doctoral research projects, each one addressing one of the major themes in the energy system: modelling, production, distribution and storage. With this research, we’ll build on in-depth knowledge and preparation, so that by the time construction actually starts, we’ll have a solid and substantiated energy plan ready to go.’