GFZ, EWP to cooperate on further geothermal heating projects in Potsdam, Germany
The project partners from EWP and GFZ for new geothermal projects in Potsdam, Germany (source: GFZ)
Carlo Cariaga
22 Jun 2026
GFZ and EWP are combining their expertise and capabilities to deploy more geothermal heating in Potsdam, Germany while evaluating the Northern German Basin.
Utility company Energie und Wasser Potsdam (EWP) and the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) have signed a project agreement for the development of further geothermal heating projects in Potsdam, Germany. The agreement, running until 2029, aims to combine the expertise of both parties to systematically develop Potsdam’s geothermal potential.
EWP has already started operations of one geothermal heating facility at Heinrich-Mann-Allee. This 4MWth plant supplies geothjermal heating to about 6000 households. The utility company is planning a total of eight deep geothermal energy projects as part of its strategy to gradually phase out the combined heat and power plant.
As part of the cooperation, GFZ will contribute its scientific expertise in the areas of exploration, reservoir development, management and monitoring. EWP will act as project sponsor and assumes economic responsibility for the projects. The utility will be responsible for the overall planning and investment, the technical implementation, and the integration into the city’s heating network.
“With our first major geothermal project on Heinrich-Mann-Allee, we have already impressively demonstrated the potential of geothermal energy use in Potsdam,” explains Carsten Schulte, Technical Director of EWP.
“The collaboration with the GFZ and their expertise enables us to transfer this successful concept to other locations.”
“This collaboration allows us to combine research and practice in an exemplary way,” says Prof. Dr. Susanne Buiter, Scientific Director of the GFZ. “Research on geothermal energy is of paramount importance at the GFZ, because the use of geothermal heat can make a significant contribution to the urgently needed energy transition.”
Prof. Dr. Ingo Sass, project manager at the GFZ and head of the Geoenergy section, further added that the geology in Potsdam offers several reservoir horizons that could be developed and utilized for geothermal energy for the first time. The project can provide valuable insights on the geothermal potential of the Northern German Basin and could pave the way for projects beyond Potsdam and Berlin-Brandenburg.
Source: GFZ
