National Geothermal Development Masterplan and Its Fulfilment in Germany

Abstract

Using geothermal resources as well for heating (and cooling) mostly with shallow heat pump applications as electricity production is in Germany a part of using renewables for longer time. After the governments decision to close all nuclear plants the installation of all kind of using renewables is accelerated. Due to the short time we have no real master plans but lots of scenarios how the nuclear power will be replaced. Besides the energy production transport (new power lines) and storage are major issues.

In many scenarios geothermal plays a smaller part or is even missing but others notice that a baseload component is needed to stabilize the net and to decrease demands for transport and storage.

In the heating and cooling market geothermal installations (mostly shallow) are widespread and have a good growth rate. Here geothermal supply will be (besides solar and micro heat and power) a major contributor in the near future.