Seismic data acquisition for GéothermY project completed in northern Vaud, Switzerland
Vibrotruck used during the seismic data acquisition campaign of the GeothermY project (source: Video screenshot, GeothermY)
Carlo Cariaga
3 Feb 2026
A seismic data acquisition campaign in northern Vaud, Switzerland has been completed by the YOM consortium as part of the GeothermY project.
From September to November 2025, a large-scale seismic data acquisition campaign was conducted over approximately 100 square kilometers covering 29 municipalities in northern Vaud, Switzerland. This is part of the GéothermY project which aims to create a 3D map of the subsurface, thus enabling geothermal drilling in the region.
With the data now collected, the project progresses to data processing, analysis, and interpretation. This will help the team identify promising areas or, where appropriate, define the scope of further subsurface research projects and the planning of a future geothermal exploration facility. According to the project’s original timeline, this phase is expected to take between 6 to 12 months.
The GéothermY project is being done under the companies Y-CAD SA, Orllati Real Estate SA, and MalmEnergie Naturelle SA, or the so-called YOM consortium, which was formed in late 2024. By September 2025, the consortium secured for the exploration permit for the seismic campaign.
A large-scale system was deployed, comprising nearly 20,000 geophones for data recording and enabling the acquisition of approximately 10,000 vibration points. Around fifty people were continuously deployed in the field throughout this phase.
The initiative also received a healthy level of public support. Prior to the campaign, an individualized approach was taken with the owners of 2,509 public and 2,254 private plots to obtain the necessary permits. This process resulted in a remarkable permitting rate of 98%, an unprecedented outcome for this type of project in
Switzerland. Furthermore, the sensor recovery rate exceeded 97%, demonstrating respect for the equipment and the exemplary public support for this initiative.
The GeothermY project has released an excellent video package detailing the seismic data acquisition campaign and the future steps for the program. Click here to watch the video (in French).
The exploration campaign will provide valuable information that will improve knowledge of the subsurface and enable geothermal drilling in the region. If the results are promising, the plan is for drilling to commence by 2027.
Source: GeothermY
