Geothermal potential of Düsseldorf and Duisburg, Germany under study

Düsseldorf, North Rhine Westphalia, Germany (source: suchosch / flickr, Creative Commons)

Carlo Cariaga 28 Feb 2023

The technical and economic feasibility of developing a geothermal resource in the cities of Düsseldorf and Duisburg in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany is being analyzed under the “Geothermie-Rhein” inter-municipal project. This project stems from a resolution passed by the state parliament in March 2019 to promote the heat transition by developing geothermal energy.

The joint feasibility study is being undertaken by the respective municipal utilities, Stadtwerke Düsseldorf AG and Stadtwerke Duisburg AG, along with Fraunhofer IEG, the University of Duisburg-Essen, and the Düsseldorf Airport.

As part of the feasibility study, gravimetric surveys and 2D and 3D seismic surveys have been conducted in the two cities. Gravimetric measurements were made in the northern part of the Düsseldorf permit area from July to September 2022. Seismic measurements were made by the Geological Service NRW in October 2022 as part of a larger study of the NRW region. This part of the study aims to determine, among other things, the presence of water-bearing layers at a suitable depth below the cities of Düsseldorf and Duisburg.

Part of the study also analyzes the economics of the expansion of the district heating network. Stadtwerke Duisburg, together with the chair for energy technology at the University of Duisburg-Essen, is analyzing the details of the economics and technology of the local energy systems.

Source: Geothermie-Rhein