Direct Heat Use Research Articles

Probabilistic assessment of deep geothermal resources in the Cornubian Batholith and their development in Cornwall and Devon, United Kingdom

Geothermal energy could play a pivotal role in decarbonisation as it can provide clean, constant base-load energy which is weather independent. With a growing demand for clean energy and improved energy security, geothermal resources must be quantified to reduce exploration risk. This study aims to quantify the untapped resource-potential of the Cornubian Batholith as a geothermal resource for power generation and direct heat use. Recent field work, laboratory measurements and petrophysical characterization provides a newly compiled dataset which is inclusive of subsurface samples taken from the production well of the United Downs Deep Geothermal Power Project. Deterministic and probabilistic calculations are undertaken to evaluate the: total heat in place, recoverable resource, technical potential and potential carbon savings. The Cornubian Batholith is considered a petrothermal system which may require stimulation as an enhanced geothermal system. This study shows the batholith has significant heat stored of 8988 EJ (P50), corresponding to 366 EJ recoverable and a technical potential of 556 GWth. When evaluating the potential for power generation (i.e., electricity) the P50 is 31 GWe. The total carbon savings when generating electricity (P50) equates to 106 Mt.

Multi-criteria decision-making method for evaluation of investment in enhanced geothermal systems projects

Deep geothermal energy presents large untapped renewable energy potential could significantly contribute to global energy needs. However, developing geothermal projects involves uncertainties regarding adequate geothermal brine extraction and huge costs related to preparation phases and consequently drilling and stimulation activities. Therefore, evaluating utilization alternatives of such projects is a complex decision-making problem effectively addressed using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods. This study introduces the MCDM method utilizing analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and weighted decision matrix (WDM) to assess different utilization alternatives (electricity generation, direct heat use and cogeneration). The AHP method determines the weight of each criterion and sub-criterion, while the WDM calculates the final project grade. Five criteria groups - technological, geological, economic, societal and environmental – comprising twenty-eight influencing factors were selected and used for the assessment of investment in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) projects. The AHP-WDM method was used by 38 experts from six categories: industry, educational institution, research and technology organization (RTO), small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME), local community and other. These diverse expert inputs aimed to capture varying perspectives and knowledge influence investment decisions in geothermal energy. The results were analysed accordingly. The results underscore the importance of incorporating different viewpoints to develop robust, credible, and effective investment strategies for EGS projects. Therefore, this method will contribute to more efficient EGS project development, enabling thus a greater penetration of the EGS into the market. Additionally, the proposed AHP-WDM method was implemented for a case study examining two locations. Locations were assessed and compared on scenario-based evaluation. The results confirmed the method's adequacy for assessing various end uses and comparing project feasibility across different locations.

Revisiting the Deep Geothermal Potential of the Cheshire Basin, UK

Deep geothermal energy can aid in the decarbonization of heat within the UK; this is required to meet net zero carbon emissions targets by 2050. The Cheshire Basin represents a significant opportunity for the development of deep geothermal resources; there are vast quantities of high permeability sandstones in hydraulic continuity, with temperatures favorable for direct heat use and, potentially, for power generation. Newly produced basal temperature maps in this study indicate the likely maximum temperatures for the basin, with the hottest temperature expected to be between 100 and 131.2 °C in the Crewe area. There have also previously been a range of estimates highlighting a geothermal resource within the basin to be in the region of 44.1 to 75 × 1018 J; however, previous estimates for heat in place are limited to simple volumetric or geometrical constraints. Therefore, this paper uses digitized depth and temperature maps to provide new estimates for the heat in place. Results suggest the resource has been underestimated and there is a need for more detailed evaluation. Depending on the geothermal gradient, the resource could be between 91 and 144 × 1018 J (1.26 to 1.45 × 1017 J/km2). Although there is a significant amount of heat in place, geological issues preventing development remain, such as the uncertainty in the quality of the reservoir at depth due to data limitations and the lateral continuity of the Manchester Marls Formation, which could act as a barrier to flow. Nevertheless, further regional assessment of the basin and data acquisition is required to build confidence in the reservoir quality and reduce uncertainty. This could unlock the basin for geothermal development.

The Potential, utilization, and development of Geothermal Energy in Türkiye

Geothermal energy is a natural resource that can be utilized directly or by converting to other types of energy. Considering the diversity of the geological structure of Türkiye, the geothermal systems have developed depending on young tectonic and volcanic active rock. Western and Central Anatolia are especially rich in geothermal resources. The geothermal well with the hottest well-bottom temperature was drilled in Central Anatolia, and the well-bottom temperature was measured as 341°C at a depth of 3845 meters. In 2022, Türkiye's electricity generation capacity and the total installed direct heat use reached 1663 MWe and 5113 MWt, respectively. Considering Anatolia's Curie depth and heat flux, the probable thickness of the batholith can be regarded as 10 km. For example, the total granitoid area of Western Anatolia is 4221 km2, and at least 2% of this granitoid can provide approximately 8x107 MWh of electricity by Enhanced Deep Geothermal Systems (EDGS). When all granites in Türkiye are considered, it is expected that the future capacity of Türkiye will be much higher with drilling research and development studies and the discovery of new fields. This capacity will exceed 100,000 MWt levels in the medium term, especially with the addition of EDGSs.

The scramble for cheap green hydrogen. Tough competition to produce more efficient electrolysers

Finite fossil fuel reserves and the ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions have led to a renewed interest in alternative and sustainable forms of energy generation. Hydrogen from solar energy is a promising technology, producing energy from an abundant source. The storability of hydrogen is attractive, because it helps to overcome the intermittent nature of most renewable forms of energy. But how does solar hydrogen compare economically to other forms of solar energy? This study identified photoelectrochemical hydrogen technology to have potential to be used as part of a distributed energy resource and provide combined heat and power to residential customers via fuel cells. Since the conversion chain via hydrogen is less efficient than direct use of photovoltaic electricity or heat from solar thermal sources, the technical advantage rests with the storability and subsequently higher utilisation of hydrogen energy. In order to answer the question “under which conditions solar hydrogen may be economically viable”, a techno-economic model has been developed. Temporal resolution of thermal and electrical demand for a residential dwelling throughout the year is used to assess the level to which solar energy can be used to displace grid electricity and natural gas. It has been found that storing hydrogen can indeed add value to a solar based installation, if the installed capacity is sufficiently large. Further, the model established the highest economic value for a combination of photovoltaic, solar thermal and solar hydrogen, giving rise to the suggestion that solar hydrogen devices should not be developed as pure hydrogen generators, but that a poly-generation approach, including some electrical and thermal output, may be favourable. The optimum mix depends on a range of parameters, including the total size of the installation.

Nursery greenhouses heated with geothermal energy – A case study from Rotorua New Zealand.

The InfraCore nursery in Rotorua is a unique case of greenhouse heated with geothermal energy. The nursery only runs at full capacity during the colder six months of the year, when the geothermal heating system is operational. However, a large expansion project to grow gourmet vegetables and greens would require heating year-round. The nursery and greenhouses infrastructure and its direct heat use technology are characterised in detail. Wellbore static and flowing conditions were determined using PTS and calorimeter output tests and wellbore simulation. The existing production well has enough capacity to provide thermal energy for both developments, providing that the well is kept clean of calcite scaling.

Economic and fault stability analysis of geothermal field development in direct-use hydrothermal reservoirs

The installed capacity of geothermal systems for direct use of heat is increasing worldwide. As their number and density is increasing, the their interaction with subsurface faults becomes more important as they could lead to safety risks from induced seismicity. Assessment and management of such risks is essential for the further development and extension of geothermal energy for heating. At the same time, the economic output of geothermal systems can be marginal and is hence often supported by subsidy schemes. A combined assessment of fault stability and economic output could help operators to balance economic and safety aspects, but this is currently not common practice. In this study we present a methodology to assess field development plans based on fault stability and Net Present Value (NPV) using reservoir simulations of a fluvial, heterogeneous sandstone representative of the majority of direct-use Dutch geothermal systems. We find that the highest friction coefficient leading to exceedance of the Mohr–Coulomb failure criteria in this sandstone is 0.17; such values could be encountered in clay-rich fault gouges. Similar or lower fault permeability compared to the reservoir results in no changes and an increase respectively of both NPV and fault stability with larger Fault-to-Well Distance (FWD). Fault permeability higher than the reservoir permeability results in a minor increase in NPV with smaller FWD. Our results demonstrate that a combined analysis of thermal, hydraulic, mechanical and economic assessment supports a responsible and viable development of geothermal resources at a large scale. The importance of a high spatial density of supporting stress data will be essential for a better understanding and quantification of economic and fault stability effects of geothermal operations.

Deep Geothermal Heating Potential for the Communities of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin

We summarize the feasibility of using geothermal energy from the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) to support communities with populations >3000 people, including those in northeastern British Columbia, southwestern part of Northwest Territories (NWT), southern Saskatchewan, and southeastern Manitoba, along with previously studied communities in Alberta. The geothermal energy potential of the WCSB is largely determined by the basin’s geometry; the sediments start at 0 m thickness adjacent to the Canadian shield in the east and thicken to >6 km to the west, and over 3 km in the Williston sub-basin to the south. Direct heat use is most promising in the western and southern parts of the WCSB where sediment thickness exceeds 2–3 km. Geothermal potential is also dependent on the local geothermal gradient. Aquifers suitable for heating systems occur in western-northwestern Alberta, northeastern British Columbia, and southwestern Saskatchewan. Electrical power production is limited to the deepest parts of the WCSB, where aquifers >120 °C and fluid production rates >80 kg/s occur (southwestern Northwest Territories, northwestern Alberta, northeastern British Columbia, and southeastern Saskatchewan. For the western regions with the thickest sediments, the foreland basin east of the Rocky Mountains, estimates indicate that geothermal power up to 2 MWel. (electrical), and up to 10 times higher for heating in MWth. (thermal), are possible.

Geothermal resource assessment of remote sedimentary basins with sparse data: lessons learned from Anticosti Island, Canada

Anticosti Island is located in the Anticosti sedimentary basin, an Ordovician/Silurian carbonate platform. This platform is mainly composed of limestone and shale with some dolomite and sandstone and reaches up to 5 km depth in the southwest. It overlies a Precambrian basement of the Grenville Province made of magmatic and metamorphic rocks. Like most remote and off-grid regions in Canada, it relies heavily on fossil fuels for energy supplies. An assessment of deep geothermal resources was achieved in this area with the objective of diversifying energy resources to help develop renewable energy for villages deserved by micro-grid systems. Despite sparse and low-quality bottom-hole data (15 wells of 1111 m to 2762 m depth), a 3D temperature model was developed for this sedimentary basin and its underlying Precambrian basement up to 40 km (mantle depth). Quantifying confidence intervals for thermal parameters, namely bottom-hole temperature, thermal conductivity, heat generation rate and mantle heat flux, was paramount to obtain a reliable range of temperature predictions. A high variability of modeled temperature, up to 41% at the base of the sedimentary basin and 70% at mantle depth, remains when trying to constrain input parameters. The lack of equilibrium temperature measurements at depth affects the temperature predictions, both in the sedimentary basin and the Precambrian basement. It is an important issue to solve in further studies. Furthermore, knowledge of the thermal properties of the Precambrian basement of the Grenville Province and its geometry is poor. In addition, there is a wide confidence interval on thermal conductivity of specific lithologies in the Anticosti sedimentary basin. It has a significant impact on temperature predictions at depth and should be improved for studies focusing on electricity production. Despite a wide confidence interval on temperature predictions, geothermal electricity generation from reservoirs at 120 °C or more appears difficult in the current technical and economic context. Electricity generation at a low temperature with an inlet of 70 °C could be achieved at a reservoir depth of 2–4 km, but with a net efficiency of 10–11% (considering a flow rate of 40 l s−1 and a cooling temperature of 5 °C). Direct use of geothermal heat from the deepest part of the sedimentary basin seems to be the most realistic option, provided that sufficiently permeable horizons can be found.

Мировые тенденции в развитии геотермальной энергетики. Часть 1. Геотермальные ресурсы по регионам мира

The article provides an overview of materials on the use of geothermal resources over regions of the world. The dependence of efficiency of using geothermal resources on the geophysical and geographical parameters of each region is shown. We present data on the countries where geothermal energy is developing most successfully and for what purposes it is used. The leaders are here the United States, the Philippines, Mexico, Indonesia, and New Zealand. All these countries are located in the areas of present-day volcanism, within the “Fiery Ring”, where the heat carrier has high parameters and is available on the Earth's surface, where the cost of building a geothermal power plant is minimal, and the prime cost of energy is competitive in the energy market. It is emphasized that geothermal energy is used very little on the global scale: the share of electricity generated from geothermal resources is only 0.5%. It is produced only in 24 countries. The direct use of geothermal heat is much more wide-spread: for space heating, including centralized heat supply, for and pools, greenhouses, air conditioning, for heating open ground, and pavement, in industrial processes, for melting snow and other purposes. For example, in the capital of China, Beijing, about three hundred wells were drilled to a depth of about 3 kilometers. Water with a temperature up to 70 °C flows from them and is used for central heating of high-rise buildings and for heating greenhouses. In Iceland, owing to geothermal heat, 90% of the country's heating capacity needs are met. Almost half of the volumes of geothermal energy are spent for heating and hot water. In the Paris basin, there are 37 circulation systems, including 50 installations for centralized heat supply. Heat is also supplied to greenhouses and fish farms. In 2007, a new draft of the circulation system for heating the Orly airport in Paris was implemented. In the vicinity of Paris, 170 thousand houses are heated by 33 geothermal plants.

Experience Gained on Direct Use of Low Enthalpy Energy in Hotel do Parque, S. Pedro do Sul, Portugal

Despite the high number of thermal flowing springs in Portugal mainland (up to 52 hot springs), ranging temperatures from 20 °C to 77 °C, and with significant water flow rate, few district heating system were implemented in Portugal. Here we present the São Pedro do Sul district heating system, located northern of Portugal. The thermal power plant was designed, completed, and commissioned in 2001 allowing the utilization of the geothermal heat by local users, as Hotel do Parque. The district heating system sums about 15 years of utilization without interruption and with minor drawbacks. On this paper we present the project overview along with thermal power plant specifications and data numbers. Heat comes from a 16.9 L/s of thermal water supplied by a natural spring and a nearby well. Heat from the spring and well sources is transferred to a secondary low mineralized water system by a plate heat exchanger, allowing the heating of space and domestic waters of hotel areas. Based on a theoretically cascade direct use of heat from a 67 °C to a 20 °C water temperature range, available heat totals 29.1*106 kWh yearly. However, past and actual use of heat only reaches around 1.6% of that figure. By comparing with fossil heat sources, actual use of a natural heat source reduces a theoretically amount of 117.9 ton of CO2 emissions by year. The successful use of this district heating system can promote local expansion of new users and other possible heat uses of this renewable energy, giving chance for the district heating system saturation.

Ranking the geothermal potential of radiothermal granites in Scotland: are any others as hot as the Cairngorms?

Prior investigations concur that the granite plutons in Scotland which are most likely to prove favourable for geothermal exploration are the Ballater, Bennachie, Cairngorm and Mount Battock plutons, all of which have heat production values greater than 5 μW m −3 . This heat production arises from the significant concentrations of potassium, uranium and thorium in some granite plutons. A new field-based gamma-ray spectrometric survey targeted plutons that were poorly surveyed in the past or near areas of high heat demand. This survey identifies several other plutons (Ben Rhinnes, Cheviot, Hill of Fare, Lochnagar and Monadhliath) with heat production rates between 3 and 5 μW m −3 that could well have geothermal gradients sufficient for direct heat use rather than higher temperatures required for electricity generation. The Criffel and Cheviot plutons are examples of Scottish granites that have concentric compositional zonation and some zones have significantly higher (up to 20%) heat production rates than others in the same plutons. However, the relatively small surface areas of individual high heat-production zones mean that it is unlikely to be worthwhile specifically targeting them. Supplementary material: The full set of heat production data is available at https://doi.org/10.5525/gla.researchdata.302

Vacuum pumping options for application in solar thermochemical redox cycles – Assessment of mechanical-, jet- and thermochemical pumping systems

Solar powered two step thermochemical redox cycles are often investigated as a pathway to producing renewable fuels, via the splitting of water and carbon dioxide. These processes require a high temperature step for the reduction of the redox material. The reduction thermodynamics also critically depend on the oxygen partial pressure. In generic process assessments, purge gases and mechanical vacuum pumps have been considered for removing the released oxygen. Even though both alternatives are expected to have a significant impact on the overall process efficiency, little effort has been made so far in providing a detailed analysis of the implementation of the related components - especially in the case of vacuum pumps. In this study models are developed for assessing the energy requirements of mechanical vacuum pumps as well as for jet pumps. The models are validated and compared to data provided by manufacturers. In addition, a novel thermochemical pumping concept is introduced and a first thermodynamic assessment is presented. The energy demands of the different pump options are discussed in the context of the targeted application. By comparison with the energy stored in the produced fuel, limitations for the implementation of these systems can be identified. Furthermore, the costs for mechanical and jet pumps have been taken into account for the assessment. While mechanical pumps are energetically favored and could be reasonably applied for pressures down to 150Pa, jet pumps are the more economic option and can make direct use of waste heat, which should be vastly available in the process at the required temperature level. The concept of thermochemical pumps is energetically very interesting and might shift the limit of realistic operational pressures to lower values, especially when combined with conventional systems.

Geothermal Energy from the Main Karoo Basin (South Africa): An Outcrop Analogue Study of Permian Sandstone Reservoir Formations

The geothermal potential of the Main Karoo Basin has not been addressed in the past. A first assessment of Permian sandstone formations in the Eastern Cape Province, including down-hole temperature data from deep boreholes, and evaluation of groundwater temperature and heat flow values from literature leads to 3130 TWh (11.3 EJ) of power generation potential within the central and southern parts of the basin. The low permeability lithotypes may be operated as enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), depending on the fracture porosity in the deeper subsurface. In some areas auto-convective thermal water circulation might be expected and direct heat use becomes reasonable.

How hot are the Cairngorms?

Heat flow measured over the East Grampians batholith in the 1980s was found to be unexpectedly low and at odds with high radiogenic heat production within the outcropping granites and a very large volume of granite predicted from an interpretation of gravity data. Past climate variations perturb temperature gradients in the shallow subsurface leading to erroneous estimates of heat flow. A reconstruction of the surface temperature history during the last glacial cycle has enabled a rigorous palaeoclimate correction to be applied to the heat flow that shows an increase of 25% over previously reported values; revised to 86 ± 7 mW m −2 . An interpretation of recent mapping reveals that the surface exposures of the East Grampians granites are the roof zones of a highly evolved magma system. Rock composition, therefore, is likely to become more mafic with depth and the heat production will decrease with depth. This petrological model can be reconciled with the gravity data if the shape of the batholith is tabular with deep-seated feeder conduits. The increased heat flow value leads to revised predictions of subsurface temperatures of 129°C at 5 km depth and 176°C at 7 km depth, increases of 40% and 49%, respectively, compared to previous estimates. These temperatures are at the lower end of those currently required for power generation with Engineered Geothermal Systems, but could potentially be exploited as a direct heat use resource in the Cairngorm region by targeting permeable fractures with deep boreholes.

Exploration for deep geothermal reservoirs in Luxembourg and the surroundings - perspectives of geothermal energy use

The aim of this paper is to combine different types of information necessary for a first rather qualitative assessment of deep geothermal reservoirs in the region of Luxembourg. Within the geological framework, the study area encompasses Luxembourg and the surrounding areas of Belgium, Germany, and France. On the one hand, the focus is laid on low-enthalpy hydrothermal reservoirs in Mesozoic aquifers in the Trier-Luxembourg Embayment. On the other hand, petrothermal reservoirs in the Devonian basement of the Ardennes and Eifel regions are considered for exploitation by Enhanced/Engineered Geothermal Systems (EGS). For geothermal exploration and exploitation purposes, geological, thermal, hydrogeological and structural data are necessary. Among the Mesozoic aquifers, the Buntsandstein aquifer characterized by temperatures of up to 50°C is a suitable hydrothermal reservoir that could be exploited by means of heat pumps or provide direct heat for various applications. The most promising area is the zone of the SE-Luxembourg Graben. The aquifer is the warmest underneath the upper Alzette valley and the limestone plateau in Lorraine, where the Buntsandstein aquifer lies below a thick Mesozoic cover. At the base of an inferred Rotliegend graben in the same area, temperatures of up to 75°C are expected. However, geological and hydraulic conditions are uncertain. In the Lower Devonian basement, thick sandstone-/quartzite-rich formations with temperatures >90°C are expected at depths >3.5 km and likely offer the possibility of direct heat use. The setting of the Sudeifel (South Eifel) region, including the Mullerthal region near Echternach, as a tectonically active zone may offer the possibility of deep hydrothermal reservoirs in the fractured Lower Devonian basement. Based on recent data on the structure of the Trier-Luxembourg Basin, the new concept presents the Mullerthal-Sudeifel Depression as a Cenozoic tectonic structure that is still mobile and relevant for geothermal exploration. Beyond direct use of geothermal heat, the expected modest temperatures at 5 km depth (about 120°C) and increased permeability by EGS in the quartzite-rich Lochkovian could prospectively enable combined geothermal heat production and power generation in Luxembourg and the western realm of the Eifel region.

Solar power tower as heat and electricity source for a solid oxide electrolyzer: a case study

High-temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE) consists of the splitting of steam into hydrogen and oxygen at high temperature in solid oxide electrolyzers. Performing the electrolysis process at high temperatures offers the advantage of achieving higher efficiencies as compared to the conventional water electrolysis. Furthermore, this allows the direct use of process heat to generate steam. This paper is related to the FCH JU (Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking) project ADEL (ADvanced ELectrolyser For hydrogen Production with Renewable Energy Sources), which investigates different carbon-free energy sources to be coupled to the HTSE process. Renewable energy sources are able to provide the high-temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE) process with heat and power. This paper investigates the capability of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technologies to provide the HTSE process with the necessary energy demand. The layout of the plant is shown in the following figure. The design of commercial-scale high-temperature steam electrolysis has been carried out. The HTSE plant is coupled to an air cooled solar tower. The configuration and the operating parameters of the solar tower are based on those of the solar tower of Jülich (Germany), which is operated by DLR. This paper presents the results of process analysis performed to evaluate the hydrogen production from a HTSE plant coupled to an 80MWth air solar tower. Additionally, the dynamic behavior of the system during energy fluctuations has been analyzed. The receiver-to-hydrogen efficiency (based on the Higher Heating Value of hydrogen) is 26% at a hydrogen production rate of 680 kg/h in steady-state operation. The overall solar-to-hydrogen efficiency is calculated to be at 18%. Moreover, the analysis under transient conditions shows that a steady-state operation of the plant is only possible for 8 h. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Geothermal reservoir potential of volcaniclastic settings: The Valley of Mexico, Central Mexico

The geothermal potential of the Valley of Mexico has not been addressed in the past, although volcaniclastic settings in other parts of the world contain promising target reservoir formations. An outcrop analogue study of the thermophysical rock properties of the Neogene rocks within the Valley of Mexico was conducted to assess the geothermal potential of this area. Permeability and thermal conductivity are key parameters in geothermal reservoir characterization and the values gained from outcrop samples serve as a sufficient database for further assessment. The mainly low permeable lithofacies types may be operated as stimulated systems, depending on the fracture porosity in the deeper subsurface. In some areas also auto-convective thermal water circulation might be expected and direct heat use without artificial stimulation becomes reasonable. Thermophysical properties of tuffs and siliciclastic rocks qualify them as target horizons for future utilization of deep geothermal reservoirs.

Geothermal energy

Geothermal technologies use renewable energy resources to generate electricity and direct use of heat while producing very low levels of greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. Geothermal energy is stored in rocks and in fluids circulating in the underground. Electricity generation usually requires geothermal resources temperatures of over 100°C. For heating, geothermal resources spanning a wider range of temperatures can be used in applications such as space and district heating (and cooling, with proper technology), spa and swimming pool heating, greenhouse and soil heating, aquaculture pond heating, industrial process heating and snow melting. Geothermal technology, which has focused so far on extracting naturally heated steam or hot water from natural hydrothermal reservoirs, is developing to more advanced techniques to exploit the heat also where underground fluids are scarce and to use the Earth as a potential energy battery, by storing heat. The success of the research will enable energy recovery and utilization from a much larger fraction of the accessible thermal energy in the Earth’s crust.

Patents on the Advances in Dairy Industry

The current work is aimed to give an overview on the most relevant patents available on dairy industry. To the aim, both processing and product innovations will be reviewed. In particular, novel tools applied to traditional dairy plants to optimize the heat treatments and reduce the disadvantages derived from the direct use of heat on product quality will be reported. Advances applied for delivering dairy starter cultures to better control contamination of process lines will be also discussed. Some relevant inventions to reduce the length of time required during the manufacturing or to decrease the aging time of dairy products will be presented. Finally, the advances to enhance functional and/or sensory properties of dairy products will be reported. In particular, processing methods to achieve milk-derived products with desired morphological and/or compositional characteristics will be reviewed.