Swiss authorities favourable to Haute-Sorne geothermal project in Switzerland
Plant design for Haute-Sorne project, Switzerland (source: Geo-Energie Suisse)
Alexander Richter
5 Apr 2020
While not released, indications of a conducted study by the Swiss Seismological Service point to an approval of the Haute-Sorne geothermal project by developer Geo-Energie Suisse in the Canton of Jura, Switzerland.
Reported this weekend from Switzerland, under current guidance the deep geothermal energy project in Haute-Sorne in the Contone of Jura would receive the approval of the Swiss seismological service (SED).
This is according to a report written by SED prepared on behalf of the Canton of Jura. While there is no official announcement yet, local news detail the conclusions of the study which seem largely favorable to the project of the developer Géo-Energie Suisse (GES) and quotes the experts of the SED: “Taking into account the conditions imposed by the Canton of Jura, the concept of evaluation and risk management for the Haute-Sorne project presented by GES is solid and does not need to be fundamentally changed in the light of the Pohang earthquake. ” [Pohang is an EGS project connected to an earthquake in South Korea]
According to experts, who suggest that the developer can carry out the first phase of drilling, the exploratory phase presents only a minimal seismic risk, well below the criteria defined by the canton. The allocation of the permit for the second phase will depend on the results obtained during this first stage.
In a separate news piece, it is reported that the project sees some public opposition, a strong interest by the federal government to push geothermal and a local government that has delayed the decision since October 2019 now being likely faced with compensation claims by the developer.
Source: RFJ
