The district of Celle in Germany is investing EUR 4 million for a geothermal project that will provide affordable and sustainable heating supply to district administration buildings around Trift and Speicherstraße. The initial phase of the project will start by October 2026, with an expansion planned by July 2027.
The project envisions the drilling of 79 geothermal boreholes to depths of up to 150 meters. Heat from these boreholes will be supplied to nine district administration buildings through two heat pumps. The initial phase will involve the drilling of only approximately ten boreholes, targeting the start geothermal heat supply by the 2026 heating season. By July 2027, 69 additional boreholes will be drilled, alongside the planned work to modernize the heating system and district heating network.
The district administration estimates annual savings of EUR 200,800 by making the shift to geothermal heating. This means that the EUR 4 million investment will pay for itself in about 20 years. However, as emphasixed by district administrator Axel Flader, the main goal of the project is to help achieve climate targets. The Celle district aims to be climate-neutral by 2040.
Celle and the region around it holds a significant place in the history of the German petroleum industry, and today is still a manufacturing and operational base for major drilling and energy infrastructure companies. The district hosts the annual International Conference for Advanced Drilling Technology, otherwise known as Celle Drilling.
Source: Cellesche Zeitung
