Energetic use of highly mineralised deep waters as an aspect of material co-production of minerals

Reducing Europe's dependence on imported raw materials with alternative and innovative local extraction methods is becoming a matter of critical importance. Brines of existing deep wells in various European countries contain recoverable concentrations of raw materials of , as well as a great geothermal heat potential. This paper summarises potentials from wells on the continent from which raw materials and heat can potentially be extracted (raw material and heat source). Moreover, the paper presents novel extraction processes (raw material and heat sink) that have been developed by research institutions and have been enhanced by the integration of heat and mass flows to reduce the energy consumption. Challenges and potentials of the developed processes as well as their suitability to provide utilizable excess heat and cold for external demands are described. The paper determines the boreholes’ potentials for the extraction of raw materials, their heating and cooling and possible CO2 savings.