Project to research geothermal potential in Thurgau, Switzerland

Steckborn, Kanton Thurgau, Switzerland (source: flickr/ dmytrok, creative commons)

Alexander Richter 27 Aug 2021

The Geothermal Thurgau Association (VGTG) is applying for around CHF 30 million from a cantonal fund in Switzerland. The “Thurgau Energy Use from the Underground 2030” (TEnU) project aims to collect better data on the deeper underground in Thurgau, so a news piece by Geothermie Schweiz.  The application has a good chance: In its report to the Grand Council, the government recommends funding the project.

The “Thurgau Energy Utilization from the Underground” (TEnU) project aims to explore the contribution of geothermal energy to energy generation in Thurgau – by means of detailed research into the underground. There is currently no meaningful overview of the subsoil that would allow a cantonal usage strategy. The “TEnU 2030” project aims to close this gap. Many facts and figures are already available. But they come from the time when the natural gas and oil companies were looking for deposits in Thurgau. “The findings at that time are not available as usable raw data. And today’s investigation methods enable much more detailed investigations, ”explains Roland Wyss, geologist and Vice President of the VGTG.

Seeking to define three promising drilling targets

With the “TEnU 2030” project, the field is to be prepared for the use of geothermal energy. In a first phase, existing data is systematically collected, analyzed and selected according to promising areas and forms of geothermal use. In a further step, the subsurface is to be explored in several regions with a three-dimensional “seismic campaign”. “Based on these results, we want to identify up to three promising drilling locations for future exploratory boreholes and examine the deeper subsurface – between 1000 and 4000 meters – in detail,” explains VGTG President Josef Gemperle. The climax is marked by an exploratory drilling, which provides detailed information about the technological conditions and thus also provides an answer to the question about a Thurgau geothermal power plant. This also mitigates the risks of future investors seeking deep drilling.

The federal government can cover up to 60 percent of the costs

The VGTG estimates the expenditure up to and including deep drilling at a total of CHF 74 million, of which the federal government could cover around 60 percent. Therefore, the VGTG puts the funds requested in the cantonal fund at around CHF 30 million. In its report to the Grand Council, the government recommends funding the project. If this decision is positive, the Thurgau electorate could ultimately decide on the distribution of the funds in May 2022.

Source: Geothermie Schweiz