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Geothermal energy – energy that comes from the depths of the earth

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Deep below the earth lies an immense source of energy – thermal water in hot rock. Geothermal power plants can “tap” this water as another form of renewable energy. Following the successful completion of many years of research projects in Bruchsal and the Alsatian Soultz-sous-Forêts, one thing is certain: Geothermal energy offers environmentally friendly and future-proof energy from the region 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

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In 2009, Bruchsal was the first geothermal power plant in Baden-Württemberg to go into operation

Geothermal energy: the new renewable energy source

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How geothermal energy works

Thanks to a geothermal heat anomaly, the Upper Rhine Valley is particularly suitable for the use of geothermal energy. Normally the temperature in volcanically inactive regions increases by 3°C per 100 m depth. The temperature rises faster in Oberrheingraben. In some places, it is even 100°C at a depth of 1,000 m.

Today it is clear how to plan, equip, and operate geothermal power plants and thus open up additional sources of renewable energy in the region. EnBW made a major contribution to this through its pioneering work in the pilot and demonstration plants in Bruchsal and Soultz-sous-Forêts.

At a glance

Name: Geothermal energy

Status: Demonstration operation

Objective:Development of geothermal energy as an alternative, climate-friendly energy source

Comments on the project

Our research and development work has helped to ensure that deep geothermal heat can be reliably exploited in the future and that geothermal power plants can be operated economically in the long term.“

Dr Thomas Kölbel, geothermal energy expert at EnBW

Milestones at Bruchsal

1983
First deep drilling
2005
Research and development project starts
2009
First geothermal power plant in Baden-Württemberg goes into operation

Electrical power: 550 kilowatts; this can supply around 1,200 households with electricity

Milestones at Soultz-sous-Forêts

1987
Research project for the development of deep geothermal energy
September 2015
Start of construction of a new commercial geothermal power plant
July 2016
Start of commercial geothermal heat production

Electrical power: 1,700 kilowatts; this is equivalent to the annual consumption of 2,400 households

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Half a football field is enough

Soultz geothermal power plant

With the deep geothermal heat in Bruchsal and Soultz-sous-Forêts, EnBW is developing an additional renewable energy source – in line with the energy revolution – that supplies electricity and heat from the region. Compared with sun and wind, geothermal energy scores with several advantages: The area of half a football field in Soultz, for example, is sufficient for the above-ground installation. In addition, energy production without interruption is possible because it is not dependent on the whims of the weather. Because it can be controlled, it increases the flexibility in the energy system. Geothermal power plants are base load capable and can continuously supply electricity – more than 8,000 h per year at full capacity. Photovoltaic and wind energy plants cannot do this. They reach only around 1,000 or 4,000 h per year (converted to full capacity). Good for the environment: There are practically no carbon dioxide emissions.

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Heat utilisation increases efficiency

At the Bruchsal geothermal power plant, electricity generation was the top priority. However, deep geothermal energy offers two products – electricity and heat. If we make additional use of the heat, geothermal energy becomes even more economical for a sustainable energy supply. In Bruchsal, EnBW plans to supply customers in the vicinity of the power plant with heat from the geothermal plant.

Comments on the project

The aim is to generate and market as much electricity as possible from geothermal sources. At the same time, we benefit from the experience gained here when we construct further plants for our customers.“

Jochen Benz, Managing Director of Geothermal Energy Bruchsal

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Demanding technology for geothermal heat utilisation

Sören Reith, project manager at EnBW Forschung since May, has developed a method with which this risk can be calculated for investment decisions and with which geothermal projects can be implemented more economically. On 1 December, Reith was honoured with the Young Scientist Award of the German Geothermal Energy Association.

“It’s dark in front of the pickaxe” – that was earlier. The old mining wisdom referred to geothermal energy as the risk of being surprised – despite preliminary calculations – of how productive a geothermal reservoir is and how profitable the power plant is with it. That was before. EnBW has developed a method that makes it possible to calculate the yield risk in investment decisions and allows geothermal projects to be implemented economically.