With years of experience as a Communications Officer for the Einstein Telescope and as part of the team at AstroCeNT, Yuliya brings a unique blend of scientific insight and communication skill. From managing complex research projects to shaping communication strategies, she’s been at the forefront of connecting deep-tech science to diverse audiences across Europe.

While with us, Yuliya has been exploring how to tell the story of our ultra-sensitive MEMS sensors, which are technologies born from gravitational-wave research that are currently powering next-generation sensing on Earth and in space.

We’re thrilled to share this journey with Yuliya and with all those who believe that precision matters on Earth and far beyond.

Thanks for being part of our story, Yuliya!

Europe needs to decarbonise its heating sector, and geothermal energy can significantly aid this transition by providing heat for buildings and industries, especially in urban and #industrial areas. However, its deployment is limited due to insufficient knowledge about geothermal resources.

To reduce pipeline costs and heat losses, geothermal sources must be located close to heating networks. This requires a deep understanding of geothermal #reservoirs near and within urban areas. #Seismic exploration is crucial, but it hasn’t been widely conducted in cities due to historical focus on oil and gas, as well as technical limitations.

Starting June 2024, URGENT is revolutionising geothermal exploration in urban and industrial settings, enhancing the #reliability of subsurface data in various geological conditions.

URGENT aims to accelerate the decarbonisation of Europe’s heating sector by advancing the use of geothermal energy in urban areas. The project tackles the challenges of urban exploration by developing sustainable and affordable solutions for seismic exploration of geothermal resources.

What URGENT delivers: 

• 2 novel seismic exploration technologies (by Innoseis Sensor Technologies and Seismic Mechatronics BV)
• Machine Learning (ML) post-processing methods (by dGB Earth Sciences)
• A risk management toolbox (by AGH University of Krakow and VITO) for project risk and performance management
• Integrated exploration strategies (by realtimeseismic and all partners) for de-risking geothermal projects

Test sites include:
1. VITO site in 🇧🇪 Belgium, led by VITO
2. Konin site in 🇵🇱 Poland, led by AGH University of Krakow
3. Batta site in 🇭🇺 Hungary, led by MOL Group

💰 Total budget: ~€4M

Innoseis ST’s contribution

Innoseis Sensor Technologies is developing innovative seismic receivers designed to be small, smart, and sensitive. These receivers, equipped with highly sensitive microchip accelerometers, will integrate with Innoseis ST’s low-power wireless communication platform, enabling low-impact geothermal exploration in urban environments.

Stay tuned for more project updates! Read more here https://lnkd.in/eJGwnBzZ

This 42-month Research & Innovation project is funded by the 🇪🇺 European Commission’s Horizon Europe programme, addressing urban exploration challenges through #sustainable and #affordable seismic exploration solutions for geothermal resources.

A huge shoutout to Arjen for completing his MSc. in Mechanical Engineering at TU Delft! This is an incredible achievement and a testament to his hard work, dedication, and passion for the field.

Throughout this journey, Arjen has demonstrated exceptional skills, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence. Completing a master’s degree at one of the top engineering universities is no small feat, and we are all immensely proud of his accomplishments.

As you move forward, Arjen, we know you will continue to innovate and make significant contributions to the world of electrical engineering. Here’s to a bright future filled with exciting opportunities and continued success!

“IXA was already engaged early on, stated Mark: ‘We were in contact with IXA from the start, because we wanted to establish proper arrangements for intellectual property. In the initial phases, IXA played a crucial role for two main reasons. First, they supported us with funding for the proof of concept, which was incredibly valuable. Secondly, we worked closely with IXA to create a license agreement that was mutually beneficial. IXA’s network and their ability to help scientists navigate the transition to the business world are quite unique and helpful. We appreciated that IXA allowed us the freedom to shape things the way we wanted.’ “

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The Einstein Telescope is an advanced gravitational-wave detector that was designed to detect and observe gravitational waves. Predicted by Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity, Gravitational waves are defined as waves or curves in the composition of spacetime (mathematical model that combines space and time into a single continuum). These are caused by violent cosmic events where (enormous) objects like black holes or neutron stars collide. 

Unlike its predecessors, LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) and Virgo, the Einstein Telescope is planned to be an underground observatory with an enhanced sensitivity. Placing the observatory underground will affect the precision of gravitational wave measurements due to the reduction of environmental disturbances like seismic noise and other vibrations. The enhanced sensitivity will provide the opportunity for gravitational wave detection from a wider range of cosmic events and over longer distances. Furthermore, the more sensitive telescope will observe new sources such as the fusion of intermediate-mass black holes, and plans to give more detailed insights into astrophysical phenomena like blackhole information, neutron star collisions and the behaviour of matter in gravitational events. 

Even though its sensitivity will provide a multitude of opportunities, there are some challenges that come with this innovation. The underground location of the observatory and the extreme sensitivity can cause wave detection to be disturbed by external factors such as seismic and atmospheric motion. To minimize these disturbances, elaborate mechanical seismic attenuation systems have been designed to isolate the detectors from these unwanted vibrations. However, seismic motion also modulates the local gravitational field in a way that can not be mechanically suppressed. These signals may interfere with the gravitational wave signals arriving from astrophysical sources. This noise, known as Newtonian, or Gravity Gradient noise will limit the performance of gravitational wave detectors. The best know approach to solving this problem is active noise suppression – like a noise cancelling headphone – for the seismic activity nearby the detector. If the seismic wave fields can be measured, the effects can be subtracted from the detector output. This is where Innoseis Sensor Technologies’ solutions can play a major role.

How can Innoseis Sensor Technologies contribute to the success of the ET? 

Innoseis Sensor Technologies is able to contribute to the success of ET through the development of specialized sensing technology. The company’s highly sensitive MEMS accelerometers will be able to detect the slightest seismic vibrations in sensor networks around the detectors main components. Furthermore, the ability to detect the seismically induced fluctuating density distributions underground will also be crucial, this is where gravity gradiometry comes into play.

Gravity gradiometry is a geophysical technique used to measure variations in the Earth’s gravitational field. Unlike traditional gravity measurements that provide information about the strength of gravity at a specific point, gravity gradiometry focuses on measuring changes in the gravitational field’s gradient or rate of change. The technique involves using specialized instruments known as gravity gradiometers. These instruments are extremely sensitive to minute changes in gravitational acceleration. By measuring the differences in gravitational acceleration across a distance of roughly one meter, the instrument can provide data on how the gravitational field changes across a given area. 

Practical applications

Gravity gradiometry is particularly useful when studying areas with complex subsurface structures or when traditional gravity measurements might not provide sufficient detail. The collected data can be processed and analyzed to create detailed maps that reveal subsurface density variations, which, in turn, provide insights into the underlying geological and environmental conditions. 

Therefore, gravity gradiometry can be useful in applications important to the global issues related to energy supply and climate change, such as; 

1. Seismic monitoring of underground C0₂ storage: Innoseis specialises in advanced seismic sensing technologies. These are crucial for monitoring the subsurface integrity and detecting any potential leaks at CO₂ storage sites, ensuring the safe and effective storage of captured carbon.
2. Mineral exploration: This technique aids in detecting variations in density and can be used to locate mineral deposits, essential ingredients for batteries and electrification.
3. Geothermal exploration: Gravity gradiometry can be used to study variations in temperature and density below the Earth’s surface, providing insights into geothermal reservoirs.
4. Environmental studies: It can help monitor ground stability and detect underground voids, contributing to studies related to sinkholes and land subsidence.
5. Civil Engineering: Gravity gradiometry can provide information about the composition and structural integrity of the Earth’s subsurface, aiding in construction and infrastructure projects 

What has Innoseis Sensor Technologies achieved so far?

A gravity gradient is an extremely subtle signal, and while you could measure this with a large elaborate setup, we set ourselves the goal to develop a device which can be deployed, moved and maintained with ease. At Innoseis we like to challenge ourselves with the aim to further technology and make groundbreaking solutions available for everyone.

The main approach to the gravity gradiometer is a pure mechanical system. By relying on mechanics rather than electronics, we aim to enhance long term operation, robustness and reducing potential points of failure. Of course there is still high-end electronics required to process the signal produced inside the device, but they can be placed either in a static controlled environment or even offloaded away from the main device. Compared to current solutions our device is designed to be installed by a single person, for the purpose of a single measurement or for long term monitoring, and therefore is required to be small and lightweight. 

Over the course of the past 24 months our engineers and modeling experts have worked on mathematical models and created prototype setups to fully understand and verify each aspect of the mechanical and signal chain characteristics. This with the aim to identify the main challenges and noise sources within this novel device. Often times our engineers are challenged by the performance and availability of measurement equipment and suitable test environments. One can imagine that such precise measurements can not merely be done on a desk as during validation it is desirable to be able to measure at least an order of magnitude better than the signal to be observed.

These stringent requirements, the need for specialised and purpose build setups, and precise measuring equipment are what motivates the Innoseis team and allows us to push the boundaries of technology. The achievements so hare are no small feat and we can report that Innoseis was able to get a thorough understanding of the real life implications of such a small and industrialised gravity gradiometer. Based on the insight gained within the ETT project so far improvement have been identified that demonstrate gravity gradiometer performance by an order of magnitude better than the current state-of-art for comparable devices. 

About the Einstein Telescope Technologies Project

The Einstein Telescope is a future underground observatory designed for detecting gravitational waves, potentially located at the Netherlands-Belgium-Germany border. The “Einstein Telescope Technologies” initiative involves 12 institutions and companies collaborating on cutting-edge technologies, subsurface research, and spin-offs for various sectors. It addresses challenges like vibration-free cooling, sensor improvement, and noise reduction. The project’s broader applications include innovations like GPS. The effort aims to position Dutch industry for ET-related orders and strengthen regional collaboration. The telescope fills a gap in current observatories’ sensitivity to gravitational waves, enhancing our understanding of the universe. The project is made possible by the following organisations: 

We hope that the world will continue to stand up and band together to stop authoritarian governments from using violence to enforce their ideology. At the end of the day, we all lose when we’re at war since it only results in misery and trauma.
We wish everyone peace and safety during these trying times.