Canton of Jura signs agreement to start Haute-Sorne geothermal project

The Canton of Jura, Geo-Energie Suisse, and Geo-Energie Jura have signed a new agreement to start the pioneering geothermal project in Haute-Sorne, Switzerland. This agreement comes after the concerns relayed by the Jura State, as we previously reported, have been taken into consideration.

Once successfully commissioned, the geothermal power plant in Jura will have a planned output of 5 MW. This will generate added value to the local and regional economy and contribute towards the implementation of Switzerland’s 2050 energy strategy.

Peter Meier, CEO of Geo-Energie Suisse SA, is very satisfied “that it was possible to develop good solutions that meet the additional security requirements of the canton of Jura”.

The agreement made between the three parties includes additional security conditions required by the cantonal government as well as seismic monitoring of the project done by an independent group of experts. It can be recalled that two geothermal projects were stopped in Switzerland due to concerns related to seismic activity.

A geophysical measurement campaign will be carried out simultaneously with exploration drilling and stimulation testing. Data collected at each stage of the project will be considered in making the decision on whether to drill a second well, stimulate the basement, and to construct the geothermal power plant.

Geo-Energie Suisse’s experiments on multi-stage stimulation in the ETHZ underground laboratory in Bedretto, as well as knowledge gain from the Utah FORGE project, will be integrated into planning for the Haute-Sorne project.

“The Haute-Sorne pilot project should make it possible to produce renewable and CO2-free energy thanks to stimulated geothermal systems” explains Geo-Energie Suisse CEO Peter Meier. “It is central and justified to place safety in the foreground of the project for the inhabitants of Haute-Sorne and for geothermal projects to move forward elsewhere in the Switzerland.”

Public opinion of the Haute-Sorne geothermal project had been hurt previously by various erroneous information. Cognizant of this history, Geo-Energie Suisse and Geo-Energie Jura are now prioritizing providing transparent information and having dialogue with the local population. A monitoring and information commission will be established by the canton which will bring together representatives from the canton, municipality, project company, population, concerned associations, and the Confederation.

Emphasis will be placed on giving clear explanations of the different stages of the project, their respective objectives, the potential risks involved, and the mitigating measures for the said risks. A patronage committee will also be set up with representatives of the Confederation and the canton that will reinforce the national significance of the project and underline its importance for the future of sustainable energy in Switzerland.

Source: Geo Energie Suisse