DeepU Laser Drilling Technology Enters Field Testing: A Leap Toward Cleaner, Cheaper Geothermal Energy
October 29, 2025
The quest to make geothermal energy more accessible and sustainable has taken a major step forward. The DeepU project, a European research and innovation initiative, has announced that its cutting-edge laser drilling technology is now ready for field testing, after 44 months of intensive research, laboratory experiments, and simulations.
The DeepU system uses a laser beam combined with a supercritical nitrogen stream to drill through rock without physical contact, a breakthrough that promises to reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and minimize the environmental impact of deep drilling operations.
Funded by the European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder programme under Horizon Europe, DeepU is coordinated by the University of Padua and RED SRL, in collaboration with Prevent GmbH, Fraunhofer IAPT, Geoserv Ltd, the University of Wroclaw, and Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche-IGG, spanning four European countries.
The prototype integrates three core functions into a single drill string and drilling head:
- Precision rock drilling with a laser beam.
- Particle removal and borehole cooling using a nitrogen flow.
- Robust structural support for safe drilling operations.
Beyond the hardware, the project has optimized laser settings for various rock types, assessed environmental and safety standards, and explored market potential for large-scale applications.
“Reaching the field-testing stage is a key step toward making geothermal energy a reliable, cost-effective source available anywhere in the world,” said Luc Pockelé, Project Coordinator at RED SRL. “With DeepU, we can harness the Earth’s heat in a cleaner, smarter way.”
As DeepU moves into real-world testing, Europe edges closer to a low-carbon, resilient energy future, where geothermal energy could become an affordable, sustainable solution on a global scale.
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