Aerial view of Flensburg, Germany (supply: Innargi)
Intensive analysis concludes lack of geological situations supporting a geothermal venture.
After an in depth analysis of the subsurface information in Flensburg, Germany, Innargi has come to the conclusion that the geothermal useful resource doesn’t have sufficient potential for heating on the present state of expertise.
After an in depth analysis of the subsurface information in Flensburg, Germany, Innargi has come to the conclusion that the geothermal useful resource doesn’t have sufficient potential for district heating at scale.
The outcomes of the analysis got here sooner than anticipated primarily as a result of open and trusting collaboration established between Innargi and native utility Stadtwerke Flensburg. Torben Krarup, Head of Subsurface at Innargi, explains that there are reservoirs within the subsurface of Flensburg, however they’re “skinny and do together with decrease temperatures not give the potential wanted for a warmth supply.”
The municipal utilities didn’t incur any price for the venture, as Innargi coated all the prices. As Krarup defined, “We in Innargi are targeted on supporting and delivering geothermal tasks that efficiently can ship sustainable renewable power, which might be engaging for households. In Flensburg we don’t see that possibility. We due to this fact assist that Stadtwerke Flensburg proceed to pursue different methods to decarbonize the warmth provide.”
Extremely diversified geology within the Northern German Basin
Flensburg is situated inside the Northern German Basin, a area that has been described as having excessive geothermal potential on account of subsurface sandstone layers that may act pretty much as good geothermal reservoirs. Nevertheless, the thickness of those sandstone layers range inside the Basin.
“In some areas you could have very thick sandstone layers, however elsewhere, these layers might be very skinny,” explains Krarup.“Understanding the geology is the important thing to understanding the geothermal potential in northern Germany.”
Figuring out the presence, location, and thickness of this sandstone reservoir was the target of the analysis that Innargi carried out. The corporate’s group of consultants evaluated the obtainable properly information and seismic information in and round Flensburg, analyzed inside the context of the regional geology, and mixed the outcomes with information on the heating demand within the metropolis’s district heating grid.
The analysis that Innargi has accomplished signifies that sandstone reservoirs are too skinny and too shallow in and round Flensburg. Therefore geothermal improvement wouldn’t be aggressive with different carbon free heating sources.
Good collaboration facilitates pre-exploration work
Innargi signed a letter of intent with native utility Stadtwerke Flensburg to discover the geothermal potential in Flensburg in Could 2023. In lower than half a 12 months, Innargi has accomplished the analysis of the obtainable information. The faster-than-expected outcomes took place due to good collaboration with Stadtwerke Flensburg, in addition to with the Geological Workplace of the State of Schleswig-Holstein.
“The rationale why we have been in a position to work so quick is as a result of we had excellent collaboration and assist from the authorities to do the info screening,” stated Krarup.
Innargi additional emphasised the essential position that native utility corporations play in geothermal evaluation. The Stadtwerke can establish areas the place geothermal can assist the warmth provide going into the district heating community. “It’s clearly essential to judge the geothermal potential within the subsurface – the place the warmth can be utilized at floor. It is a very shut collaboration between the district heating firm and us.” emphasised Krarup.
Flensburg nonetheless dedicated to local weather targets
Regardless of the setback, the city of Flensburg stays steadfast in attaining their aim of being climate-neutral by 2035. “The present results of the geothermal power investigation doesn’t change the truth that we wish to make Stadtwerke Flensburg climate-neutral by 2035, as politically desired and described in our transformation plan. We are able to now use our sources to focus on different elements for lowering CO2 emissions, equivalent to warmth pumps,” affirms Karsten Müller-Janßen, head of the plant engineering division on the Stadtwerke.
The likelihood for geothermal improvement in Flensburg continues to be not fully off the desk. Innargi focuses on classical hydro geothermal applied sciences at center depth, however different builders might introduce pioneering applied sciences. These, nevertheless, have but to show themselves technical and economically viable.
There are numerous analysis tasks and concepts for brand spanking new geothermal applied sciences that would make sense for re-evaluation after they attain the suitable technical maturity. The municipal utilities will monitor this repeatedly and examine whether or not there’s something appropriate for Flensburg.
Classes and future steps
The expertise in Flensburg underlines the significance of conducting an in depth screening and analysis of knowledge within the pre-exploration part. Innargi has carried out a extremely structured information screening part, thus serving to to de-risk and scale back the prices on the early levels of geothermal improvement.
Krarup assured that the findings in Flensburg doesn’t make different prospects in northern Germany much less engaging. “The geology within the northern German Basin may be very totally different from metropolis to metropolis, and even inside cities.”
“The outcomes from Flensburg has due to this fact no influence on the venture in Kiel, which we discover very promising from a geothermal perspective. We proceed to work with Stadtwerke Kiel to judge how we will develop geothermal in Kiel.”
Supply: Innargi
