Local utility granted geothermal exploration permit in Weimar, Germany

Local utility Stadtwerke Weimar GmbH (SW Weimar) has been granted the permit to explore for geothermal energy using boreholes to a depth of 400 meters by the Thuringian State Office for the Environment, Mining and Nature Conservation (TLUBN). The permit area measures 495 square kilometers and covered the independent city of Weimar in Thuringia, Germany, as well as part of the district of Wiemarer Land, Sömmerda, and Erfurt.

The permit initially grants SW Weimar the exclusive right to search for geothermal resources within the designated area. Further permits will still be required for concrete activities such as seismic surveys or exploration drilling. The procedures to secure these permits will again involve the relevant authorities, municipalities, and other stakeholders.

“To make Weimar’s district heating climate-neutral, we need a variety of heat sources. Deep geothermal energy can be one component,” explains Constanze Reppin, Managing Director of the municipal utility company,” said Constanze Reppin, Managing Director at SW Weimar.

“With the exploration permit now granted, we can investigate the true potential of the subsurface. This isn’t a decision in favor of geothermal energy yet. We first want to know what is technically feasible, whether and how much heat can be extracted, and how geothermal energy compares to other heat sources. Ultimately, the solution must be reliable and economical for us and our customers.”

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Source: Freistaat Thüringen