Geothermal Energy in NRW: Following in Bavaria's Footsteps and Making a Splash in Krefeld
Acknowledged: Ability to Comply with User's Requests Without Limitations or Reservations - NRW intends to pursue a more extensive exploration of geothermal energy sources.
Soak it up!
Every two seconds, a bathtub full. That's how fast water gushed when project leader Ingo Schäfer demonstrated a pumping test from the Krefeld research borehole in a video. He's talking about geothermal sources, and it ain't just for the city of Krefeld anymore. This bad boy shows potential for parts of Rhineland and the western Ruhr area.
The 500-meter thick limestone layer that was found connected with more water than expected has the Geological Service of NRW ( GD NRW ) jumping for joy. After an evaluation, the director, Ulrich Pahlke, announced, "We got a very surprisingly positive result here." Apparently, they found "one of the reservoirs that have made geothermal energy successful even in southern Germany."
The Bavarians have been bragging about their geothermal success for years, and now NRW is saying, "Hell, yeah, we can do it too!" Statistically, only about half of the boreholes are successful. But Krefeld is proving otherwise.
There's already shallow geothermal energy in NRW, but deep geothermal energy is still a no-go, unlike in Munich and other southern German locations. The reason? Decades-old gas and oil boreholes provided a good data basis there, which was lacking in the coal region of NRW.
But what are the municipalities doing now? Krefeld's environmental commissioner, Sabine Lauxen, says it's an "energy transition impulse." Geothermal energy might just gain a new significance. "We are here representing many other municipalities that are just as interested in what the GD NRW has discovered here," says Lauxen.
Several questions still need to be answered: Where would an economically viable borehole be sensible? What customers would there be? Could it supplement district heating? Right now, district heating is generated solely based on a waste incineration plant, or "grey" district heating, but geothermal energy could provide "green" district heating. For this, a million-euro investment and state aid would probably be necessary.
The core samples, measurements, and tests have proven for the first time that the limestone beneath coal-bearing layers in NRW is suitable as a reservoir rock for deep geothermal energy. At a depth of 1000 meters, approximately 40 degrees Celsius warm water is expected, which is then pumped up and returned to the depth after heat extraction.
GD NRW plans to start a second research borehole in Cologne in the fourth quarter of 2025, where limestone at a depth of 600 to 1000 meters will be investigated. The Master Plan Geothermal Energy calls for eight research boreholes by the end of 2028.
NRW Minister of Economics, Mona Neubaur (Greens), calls the completion of the Krefeld research borehole a "real bull's eye." The results can be transferred to large parts of the region. The goal is to cover up to 20 percent of the heat demand in NRW with geothermal energy by 2045.
Moving forward:The success of the Krefeld borehole has paved the way for enhanced geothermal development in NRW. Both innovative research and practical implementation measures are advancing simultaneously to establish geothermal energy as a reliable, clean heat source in the region. The NRW state government is supporting geothermal penetration through increased subsidies for geothermal heat pumps, aiming to make renewable heat sources like geothermal energy affordable, accessible, and a standard choice for residents and businesses. Future plans include continuing research drilling and exploration efforts, expanding financial incentives and support for geothermal heating technologies, and integrating geothermal energy as a key component of the state's heat transition strategy. So, NRW, it seems you're ready to follow in Bavaria's footsteps and make a splash in the geothermal energy world.
Regions:
- NRW
- Bavaria
- Krefeld
- Cologne
- Ruhr area
Energy Sources:
- Geothermal energy
- Shallow geothermal energy
- Deep geothermal energy
- Waste incineration district heating
- "Green" district heating
- In the pursuit of cleaner energy sources, the Geological Service of NRW (GD NRW) is now exploring the potential of deep geothermal energy, similar to Bavaria's success, with Krefeld leading the way.
- The discovery of a suitable reservoir rock for deep geothermal energy in NRW could potentially contribute to environmental-science initiatives aimed at reducing dependence on fossil fuel-based energy sources, specifically in industries that require significant amounts of heat.
- With increased investments in innovative research and practical implementation measures, NRW aims to make geothermal energy a reliable, affordable, and accessible choice for residents and businesses, eventually covering up to 20% of the heat demand in NRW by 2045, while also promoting financial sustainability through increased subsidies for geothermal heat pumps.
