Providing direction for policy: Einstein Telescope

The Einstein Telescope is no ordinary infrastructure project. The planned observatory, designed to detect gravitational waves 300 metres underground, places unusual demands on its energy supply. That supply must be reliable, future-proof, and sustainable, while also remaining cost-efficient and compatible with an extremely sensitive scientific environment. In 2025, EnergyVille was asked to investigate how the Einstein Telescope in the Meuse-Rhine Euregio could be powered by sustainable energy. 

The study brings together four strands of work: energy modelling, energy generation, energy transmission and energy storage. Together, they make it possible to determine how much energy the telescope will need, which renewable sources are best suited to provide it, how the electricity network should be designed, and what kind of storage will be needed to ensure continuity

• Energy Modelling:
  We analyse total energy demand, costs, and environmental impact across the entire lifecycle.
• Energy Generation:
  We research renewable energy sources, with a strong focus on solar energy: vibration-free and scalable.
• Energy Transmission:
  We design stable, efficient, and sustainable electricity networks. By evaluating different scenarios, we develop future-proof grid solutions.
• Energy Storage:
  We investigate how smart energy storage systems store and release electricity when and where it is needed.

The first results have already produced some clear insights. Current analyses indicate that the Einstein Telescope is likely to consume around 100 GWh of electricity per year, with demand expected to be slightly higher during construction. To supply that energy sustainably, while keeping disturbances to an absolute minimum, the most robust and efficient solution appears to be a combination of DC transmission and battery backup systems. Wind power is not an option locally, since wind turbines are not allowed within a 10-kilometre radius of the telescope. As a result, solar energy becomes a much stronger focus.

According to the first estimates, up to 80% of the telescope’s energy demand could be covered by one or two large solar parks in the region. That means at least 20% would need to come from locally integrated photovoltaic solutions, for example, in or around buildings and across the landscape. 

But generation is only part of the puzzle. The way energy is delivered to and used within the telescope also requires a tailored approach. 

The study highlights not only how complex the energy puzzle of a project like the Einstein Telescope really is, but also how EnergyVille’s diverse expertise can help underpin those choices at system level, taking into account technology, cost, surroundings, and wider societal value.

Four tracks, one energy plan 

The Einstein Telescope energy study brings together four complementary research tracks. First, it maps the telescope’s expected energy demand, along with the associated costs and environmental impact. Next, the partners assess which renewable sources are best suited to meet that demand, with solar energy emerging as the main option. A third track focuses on the electricity network itself: how do you design a stable system for such an exceptionally sensitive piece of infrastructure? Finally, EnergyVille is investigating what kind of storage will be needed to guarantee a reliable energy supply during peaks and transition periods. Step by step, these four tracks are being combined into one integrated energy plan.