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Germany’s Hidden Heat Rush: Inside the Massive Urban Geothermal Hunt Beneath Erfurt’s Streets

Germany’s Urban Geothermal Gamble: Inside the Massive 3D Seismic Campaign Beneath Erfurt’s Streets by Geofizyka Torun By : Robert Buluma  In the heart of Germany, something extraordinary is happening beneath the sidewalks, apartment blocks, cafés, and busy streets of Erfurt. While most residents move through their daily routines unaware, fleets of heavy vibrotrucks and thousands of seismic receivers have been quietly scanning the Earth below the city in one of Europe’s most ambitious urban geothermal exploration campaigns. The recent completion of a demanding 3D seismic survey campaign by Geofizyka Torun S.A. marks far more than a technical milestone. It represents a glimpse into the future of European energy — a future where cities no longer rely heavily on imported fossil fuels, but instead tap into the immense heat hidden beneath their own foundations. Germany’s geothermal race is accelerating, and Erfurt has suddenly become one of the most fascinating battlegrounds in Europe’...
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Containment structure for Changjiang 3 nears completion

China has done it again! The China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has announced the installation of the inner dome at unit 3 of the Changjiang nuclear power plant, located in the stunning Hainan province. This comes just a few days after the outer dome was successfully installed at Zhangzhou unit 1, another Hualong One unit. CNNC plans to have both units 3 and 4 fully operational by early 2027, and it seems like they are on track to achieve that.


The steel inner dome in place at Changjiang 3 (Image: China Huaneng)

This impressive inner dome - with a diameter of 46.8 metres, a height of 23.4 metres and a total lifting weight of 518 tonnes - was lifted into place using a 3200-tonne crawler crane. The successful installation of this steel dome, marking an "important milestone node in the construction of nuclear power projects", will play a critical role in ensuring the integrity and leak tightness of the reactor building, and containment of radioactive substances.

China Huaneng, the company holding the majority share in the project, highlighted the innovative measures taken during the assembly of Changjiang 3's inner dome, such as the use of work platforms and customised hanging cage measures to break the traditional mode of constructing scaffolding platforms. This "zero scaffolding" approach is a game-changer for the industry and represents a new precedent for completing the assembly of steel-lined domes and installation items.

The inner dome at its on-site assembly point (Image: CNNC)

The Changjiang nuclear site already boasts two CNP-600 pressurised water reactors, Changjiang 1 and 2, which entered commercial operation in 2015 and 2016 respectively. In addition, CNNC has begun the construction of a demonstration ACP100 small modular reactor at the site, which is designed for multiple purposes such as electricity production, heating, steam production, and seawater desalination.


The dome is moved by crane from its assembly point towards the reactor building (Image: China Huaneng)

The estimated total investment for Changjiang Phase II - units 3 and 4 - is CNY40 billion (USD6.4 billion), and the construction period is expected to be 60 months. The completion of this project will make nuclear power the primary source of electricity for the island of Hainan, which has a population of close to 10 million people. China is certainly showing the world how it's done when it comes to nuclear energy.

source:(worldnuclearnews)

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