Geothermal energy
99 percent of the earth is hotter than 1,000 °C –a huge energy potential. This is why EnBW has been supporting the development of geothermal energy for many years as an alternative, climate-friendly source of power. There are regions in our home state of Baden-Württemberg where the conditions for the use of deep geothermal energy are particularly favourable. This is particularly true of the Upper Rhine Valley.
Geothermal energy: using the earth's heat
The focus of EnBW's research work is the further development of geothermal energy for heating and cooling and making electricity from geothermal energy economical. Geothermal energy has numerous advantages: it is an energy supplier with practically no CO2 emissions. It is not dependent on weather and time, is constantly available and economically convenient: there are no extra costs of procurement, storage and disposal.
Producing electricity with geothermal energy
The energy to produce electricity in a geothermal power station comes from several thousand metres below the earth's surface. Natural reservoirs of hot thermal water occur at geologically favourable locations deep below the surface of the earth and these can be used to produce electricity. But such reservoirs are rare. This is why the so-called Hot-Dry-Rock process is so important for the production of electricity from geothermal energy. With this process, cold water is pumped into the ground down to a depth of around 5,000 m. It flows through cracks in the rock where it heats up and is pumped back to the earth's surface elsewhere to drive turbines in a geothermal power station – just like a big flow heater.
EnBW is currently involved in two pioneering power station projects in the region and beyond: in Bruchsal near Karlsruhe and in Soultz-sous-Forêts in Alsace. Our aim is to learn even more about this innovative technology and press ahead with its commercial utilisation.
Geothermal energy at EnBW in figures
- Bruchsal: 2,500 metres deep, 0.5 MW electrical output
- Soultz-sous-Forêts: 5,000 metres deep, 1.5 MW electrical output
Geothermal energy for heating and cooling
You don't have to dill very deep to heat with geothermal energy. At a depth of only 50 to 100 metres the temperature all year round is a constant 12 degrees Celsius or so. This energy from the soil can be used with the aid of geothermal probes and heat pumps – for both heating in winter and cooling in summer.
EnBW has been supporting developments to optimise geothermal heating for many years. In the interests of our customers we are also involved in the topic of quality assurance and have participated in the development of a seal of approval for geothermal probe drilling companies. What's more, we also encourage the installation of geothermal probes in connection with heat pumps to heat one and two-family houses to the tune of one million euros.
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