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Green light given for geothermal heat and power project at Lavey-les-Bains, Switzerland

Green light given for geothermal heat and power project at Lavey-les-Bains, Switzerland Project site at Lavey-les-Bains, Switzerland (source: AGEPP/ Régis Colombo/ www.diapo.ch)
Alexander Richter 16 Oct 2019

With the necessary permits secured, the geothermal power and heat project at Lavey-les-Bains in Switzerland and funding by the federal government can now proceed with a planned drilling start in mid-2020.

The Lavey deep geothermal project, AGEPP has received the green light, as reported today in Swiss media. The project has now obtained all the necessary permit from the cantons of Vaud and Valais without any opposition. The construction of the drilling platform will begin mid-2020.

The project aims to utilise geothermal energy to generate electricity and supply heat directly to the Thermal baths at Lavey. It now has the necessary permit and support for its implementation, writes Alpine Geothermal Power Production SA (AGEPP SA) in a statement.

Production will benefit from the payment at cost price (CPP). A decision which, in addition to the supply of water and heat to the Baths at Lavey, guarantees the economic viability of the project.

The Confederation, via the Federal Office of Energy (SFOE), supports the project with a contribution of CHF 12 million (around USD 12m). Just like the State of Vaud which granted a subsidy of about CHF 1.5 million (around USD 1.5m).

All the financial conditions are right for the project to enter the operational phase. With an expected drilling start in mid-2020, the site designed to receive a rig with a height of nearly 30 meters and containment ponds for water treatment.

From mid-2021, the drilling works are planned for a period of five months. The commissioning is planned for the current year 2022. As a reminder, the project consists in drilling up to a maximum depth of 3000 meters. It will extract water at 110 degrees with a flow rate of 40 l/ s.

Source: Le Matin