The Groß Schönebeck geothermal research site of GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) in Northern Brandeburg, Germany recently celebrated its 25th year anniversary, marking a milestone for the site of several scientific and technological breakthroughs that benefit the geothermal sector until today.
In 2001, a former natural gas exploration well from the 1990s in Groß Schönebeck was brought back into use and expanded into a research platform for the development of sustainable geothermal technologies. Located in the Northern German basin, the geology in Groß Schönebeck is typical of many parts in Central Europe, making it a good representative site for geothermal studies under real-world conditions.
“Our research at the GFZ, and in particular at the Groß Schönebeck site, has helped to lay the essential scientific foundations and establish technological standards for [geothermal]. And it has paved the way for the transfer of research findings into commercial applications. This has a bright future, and the GFZ can look back on all this with pride,” said Prof. Dr Susanne Buiter, Scientific Director of the GFZ.
Some of the research milestones accomplished in the Groß Schönebeck site included the use of magnetotellurics and 3D seismic surveys for mapping of subsaline subsurface structures, the use of fiber optic cables in boreholes to measure the acoustic properties of rock, and the development and testing of hydraulic stimulation on a low-permeability geothermal reservoir.
Research on the critical mineral content of the thermal waters at the Groß Schönebeck site is also ongoing as part of the CRM-Geothermal project.
Lastly, the conversion and repurposing of existing oil and gas boreholes for geothermal application is being investigated at the Groß Schönebeck as part of the TRANSGEO project. As part of this initiative, the Danish company Green Therma is installing the DualVac vacuum pipe system at Groß Schönebeck, which is a single-well coaxial system. This is intended to demonstrate how heat can be extraceted from a deep borehole without extracting water.
“Our project represents a milestone in geothermal energy extraction technology. By demonstrating the performance of DualVac™ insulation at the GFZ’s geothermal research platform in Groß Schönebeck, we are taking an essential step towards the global, efficient and scalable utilisation of deep geothermal heat,” commented Jørgen Peter Rasmussen, founder and CEO of Green Therma.
Source: GFZ
