Drilling starts for Graben-Neudorf project near Karlsruhe, Germany

The set up of the drilling rig on site of the Graben-Neudorf geothermal project has been completed with an imminent drilling start, so developer Deutsche Erdwärme.

With the drilling, the project enters its decisive phase, so local news. Drilling is set to start on May 15, 2022 on site near Karlsruhe in the German State of Baden-Wuerttemberg.  It is one of the most advanced projects in the region. The aim is to use hot thermal water from a depth of three to four kilometers to generate energy.

“The start of drilling in Graben-Neudorf is a milestone for us. We have prepared it meticulously and want to show the region that it can work.”, so Herbert Pohl, Managing Director at Deutsche Erdwärme GmbH.

The drilling contract was signed with Huisman Geo and Züblin in March 2022, as we reported.

In the past, the company Deutsche Erdwärme GmbH evaluated a lot of data around the location of the drilling rig on the B36 highway and expects that there is a large thermal water reservoir in the depths. The company estimates that the water at a depth of 3,500 meters has a temperature of over 160 degrees Celsius, sufficient for its planned power generation project.

The first step is to explore the underground water reservoir. That’s what the first well is for, which will be drilled in the next three months. With the tests and the first results in hand, a second well is planned to be drilled by the end of the year. A long-term test is to take place at the beginning of next year, which should ultimately provide reliable statements about the reservoir.

In addition to the geothermal well in Graben-Neudorf, plants are also planned in Dettenheim and Karlsruhe-Neureut . Geothermal power plants are set to play an important role in the future energy transition. The project in Graben-Neudorf is considered to be a pilot of German geothermal energy for the others.

“We hope that we can set an example that this is a safe form of energy production that can advance our heating network.”, so Herbert Pohl.

The company though also has to address concerns by a citizens’ initiative opposed to geothermal development, which is lobbying against the project and geothermal development in the region.

Source: SWR