Initial investigations ongoing on geothermal potential in Burgdorf, Switzerland
Aerial view of the city of Burgdorf in Bern, Switzerland (source: CKW)
Carlo Cariaga
29 Sep 2025
Preliminary investigations have started for a potential geothermal project in Burgdorf, Switzerland by project partners CKW and Localnet.
Swiss power generation and distribution company CKW AG and Localnet AG have started work on initial investigation into a potential geothermal project in the city of Burgdorf in Switzerland. The focus on this phase will be preliminary investigations using publicly available subsurface data and heat utilization potential.
If the Burgdorf region proves to be potentially suitable, the project partners will inform the public about the next steps in the geothermal energy assessment at a public event by the end of 2025.
“It is very important to me that the public is transparently informed about this project from the outset,” says Stefan Berger, Mayor of Burgdorf.
“However, it definitely makes sense to carefully examine the geothermal potential in our region. This also aligns with the goals of our ownership strategy of sustainable energy supply and long-term security of supply.”
Expertise from project partners
Each of the project partners, CKW and Localnet, contributes a complementary set of expertise to the geothermal investigation project.
Localnet AG is the municipally owned energy supplier for Burgdorf and the surrounding area. As such, it understands the local conditions for infrastructure projects and is already connected to a base of water, telecommunications, heating, and water customers. This provides direct access to potential customers of a future geothermal heating facility.
CKW, a subsidiary of the the energy company Axpo Group, is the largest energy supplier in the canton of Lucerne. It is currently working on a geothermal project in the Inwil municipality, for which it conducted a seismic exploration survey earlier this year. CKW has been committed to the expansion of renewable energies for many years and has extensive experience in planning and implementing such projects.
Source: CKW
