Actual Developments in Deep Geothermal Energy in Switzerland

Abstract

In the last decades, several deep geothermal projects for district heating or balneological usage have been realised in Switzerland. In contrast, deep geothermal power has not been produced yet. The interest in this kind of power production was low, only the Basel geothermal project tried to exploit a deep geothermal resource in 2006. The perceivable induced seismicity upset the geothermal branch and the general public temporarily. Nonetheless, the two pioneer projects AGEPP and St.Gall were still developed further. In 2010, two exploration companies were founded. Through the events in Fukushima and the enacted nuclear phase-out in 2011, the perspectives of deep geothermal energy have been distinctively improved and the development has accelerated. Several potential and feasibility studies were conducted and some projects were initiated. Both pioneer projects obtained the national geothermal exploration risk guarantee, but only the drilling of the St.Gall project has been realised. Deep geothermal energy is of high potential in Switzerland and could play an important role in Swiss energy supply in the future, but to achieve this goal, challenges of the most different kind must be tackled. One of the most urgent tasks is to improve the knowledge of the deep underground to be able to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility. Furthermore, it is necessary to regulate the exploration and exploitation of deep geothermal energy in a suitable manner to provide legal and investment certainty. The business environment is also vitally important for the willingness to invest in geothermal energy.