The drilling rig for the DGE-Rollout deep geothermal analysis undertaking close to the Weisweiler energy plant in NRW, Germany (supply: RWE Energy / Klaus Görgen)
Drilling has began for the deep geothermal analysis undertaking as a part of the DGE-Rollout on the website of the Weisweiler energy plant in NRW, Germany.
Drilling has formally began for the primary exploratory borehole for deep geothermal vitality on the website of the Weisweiler lignite-fired energy plant in Eschweiler at North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany. Energy utility RWE Energy is conducting the drilling as a part of the Interreg analysis undertaking “Roll-out of Deep Geothermal Vitality in North-West Europe” or DGE-ROLLOUT.
The geothermal analysis undertaking at Weisweiler is being managed by the Geological Service NRW with companions Fraunhofer Institute for Vitality Infrastructures and Geothermal Vitality (IEG) and RWE Energy. The cooperation settlement between Fraunhofer IEG and RWE Energy was signed again in 2021, and plans for drilling have been introduced earlier this yr.
The exploratory borehole will probably be drilled to a depth of solely 100 meters. The exploratory borehole will first be technically evaluated after which expanded right into a seismological observatory by Fraunhofer IEG. This makes the borehole a part of a community of monitoring stations for the deep subsurface within the Weisweiler space.
A second exploratory borehole, roughly 500 meters deep, is to be drilled subsequent door initially of subsequent yr. Fraunhofer is to put in a geothermal probe there to provide the observatory. Knowledge from the exploration wells is meant to offer new perception into the subsurface of the area. Primarily based on the outcomes of the 2 wells, deep exploratory drilling can then be carried out afterward below the course of Fraunhofer IEG.
“District heating from thermal water – that might be a technologically new part of the vitality transition for our area. A district heating pipeline runs from the Weisweiler website to Aachen. If regeneratively generated district heating flows via them someday, like our wind energy and photo voltaic tasks right here within the district, it will likely be one other tangible contribution from RWE to regional structural change,” mentioned Dr. Lars Kulik, board member of RWE Energy.
Supply: ZfK, RWE, and Fraunhofer IEG
