Skip to main content

Just In

Dominica Geothermal Milestone: Ormat’s Plant Boosts Caribbean Clean Energy Transition

SWITZERLAND: MEASUREMENTS FOR THE MAGGLINGEN GEOTHERMAL PROJECT WILL START IN MID-MARCH

The routes of the vibration vehicles in the 13 communities. Source: Wärmeverbund Magglinge

Next week, as part of the geothermal project in Magglingen, Switzerland, around 2,700 measurement devices will be deployed for underground data collection. The actual measurements are scheduled to start in mid-March and will last for about three weeks.

The Magglingen geothermal project, which will provide heat for the National Sports Center in Magglingen (NSM) in the future, is entering a new phase. In preparation for the planned measurements, around 2,700 measurement devices will be deployed in Leubringen/Magglingen and twelve other communities for underground data collection. They will remain there for about two months. The actual measurements will start, depending on the weather conditions, in mid-March and will last for about three weeks. They are aimed at locating the suspected warm water reservoir in the depths. The results will be evaluated in early 2024.

Investigation of the underground using vibrations

To utilize the water reservoir, which is suspected to be about 1,500 to 2,000 meters deep below Magglingen, for heat production, two boreholes are necessary. The upcoming measurements serve the investigation of the underground, which is necessary in advance. Three special vibration vehicles on land and a boat on Lake Biel, as well as around 2,700 measurement devices, provide the necessary data. The vibrations do not pose a greater burden on humans, animals, or the environment.

Most of the measurements are carried out by the vibration vehicles on roads, fields, and forest roads at night. Measurements in inhabited areas are preferably carried out between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. The project website linked in the appendix shows the traveled routes and provisional schedules in detail. In addition, the population has access to an SMS service. Users receive a message one day before the passage of the vibration vehicles at a certain address. Parallel to the land measurements, measurements on Lake Biel are also taking place. These will be carried out within a few days.

Geothermal resource assessment is the process of evaluating the potential of a site to produce geothermal energy. There are several techniques that are commonly used for geothermal resource assessment, including:

Geophysical Surveys: This involves using methods such as seismic, magnetic, gravity, and electromagnetic surveys to gather information about the subsurface structure and temperature of the earth.

Drilling: Drilling is used to gather data on the temperature, fluid composition, and flow rate of geothermal reservoirs.

Geochemical Analysis: This involves analyzing the chemical composition of geothermal fluids and gases to determine the temperature and fluid flow rate of the reservoir.

Geothermometry: This involves measuring the temperature of geothermal fluids and estimating the temperature of the geothermal reservoir.

Heat Flow Studies: This involves measuring the heat flow at the surface to estimate the heat flow in the subsurface.

Numerical Modeling: This involves using mathematical models to simulate the behavior of geothermal systems and predict the potential for geothermal energy production.


Direct Use Studies: This involves evaluating the potential for direct use of geothermal energy for heating and cooling purposes.


The choice of techniques used for geothermal resource assessment depends on the specific conditions of the site, the type of geothermal system, and the information that is needed to make informed decisions about geothermal energy production.

To read about a recent geothermal resource assessment activity kindly read this article: 

https://alphaxioms.blogspot.com/2023/02/a-groundbreaking-study-explores.html



source: (https://www.geothermie.de)

#Geothermal #Switzerland #Assesments


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

TAQA Geothermal and Strataphy Collaborates To Advance Saudi Arabia Geothermal Cooling

PrimeLoop and the Geothermal Cooling Revolution in Saudi Arabia Image: Pictorial Views Saudi Arabia is entering a new phase in cooling technology, and geothermal cooling is becoming one of the most compelling solutions in that transition. At the center of this shift is PrimeLoop, Strataphy’s proprietary geothermal cooling system, which is being positioned as a commercial answer to one of the region’s most urgent infrastructure challenges: how to cool buildings efficiently in extreme heat while reducing electricity demand and water use. This matters because cooling is not a minor utility in the Gulf. It is a core operating cost, a grid stability issue, and an environmental pressure point all at once. In a country where ambient temperatures can push conventional air-conditioning systems to their limits, the search for smarter cooling is no longer theoretical. It is now a commercial necessity. PrimeLoop is interesting because it does not simply improve on conventional cooling. It rethinks...

University of Aberdeen and RGU partner to accelerate geothermal heating deployment

University of Aberdeen and RGU join forces to accelerate geothermal energy research and heat-network deployment Image: Lucy Leiper, Director of Research, Innovation & Enterprise at the University of Aberdeen and Christina Laing, Business Development Manager at Robert Gordon University The University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University (RGU) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to explore collaborative research, training and commercial activity in geothermal energy and low-carbon heating. This strategic partnership aims to combine subsurface expertise, drilling and modelling capabilities, supply-chain development, and skills training to accelerate geothermal deployment and support the just transition to net-zero heating across Scotland and beyond. Why this partnership matters for the geothermal sector Geothermal heat offers a predictable, baseload source of low-carbon thermal energy that can decarbonise district heating, industry process heat and building heating demand. Scotl...

Eavor Kleefeld II Permit Boosts Hannover Geothermal Expansion and Deep Heat Development

Eavor Secures Kleefeld II: A New Milestone for Hannover’s Deep Geothermal Ambitions Image: A Thematic image of The Eavor Project at Geretsried  Eavor’s new Kleefeld II permit marks an important step forward for deep geothermal development in Hannover, reinforcing the city’s position as one of Germany’s most closely watched urban heat-transition markets . The licence covers about 64.5 square kilometers, lasts for three years, and combines the former Buchholz and Kleefeld I exploration areas into a single, larger field that Eavor already controlled. The decision is more than an administrative update. It signals continued confidence in geothermal as a practical, scalable source of district heating in a dense metropolitan region. For Hannover, it also strengthens a project that has been building momentum for several years and could become a reference case for other European cities seeking cleaner, locally produced heat. A New Chapter For Hannover Kleefeld II sits in the northeast of...

Geothermal Steam Output Gap, Decline, Integrity, and Life Extension

The Disparity Between Anticipated and Actual Geothermal Steam Output Image: thematic image of the Hellisheiði geothermal power plant in Iceland  Geothermal energy is one of the most dependable baseload renewables, but the gap between expected steam output and real production remains a central industry problem. Exploration models are always incomplete, and once wells are onstream, pressure decline, scaling, corrosion, and thermal breakthrough steadily erode performance. Why Forecasts Miss the Mark Exploration depends on sparse wells, surface manifestations, geophysical surveys, and geochemical indicators, so it only samples a small part of a complex reservoir. Reservoirs are rarely uniform, and permeability, porosity, mineralogy, and thermal conductivity can vary sharply over short distances, which means early temperature or chemistry readings can overstate how much of the reservoir will actually support long-term production. Phase behavior adds another layer of uncertainty. In two-...

XGS Energy IPO: Morgan Stanley, Geothermal Growth, and Fervo’s Market Momentum

XGS Energy Weighs IPO After Hiring Morgan Stanley, Chasing Fervo's Geothermal Momentum Geothermal developer XGS Energy has hired Morgan Stanley to evaluate an initial public offering, positioning itself as a potential second geothermal IPO of 2026 after Fervo Energy's blockbuster listing. The move underscores growing investor appetite for clean, firm power technologies as data-center demand and grid reliability concerns reshape the energy investment landscape. The Scoop: Morgan Stanley, IPO Timing, and Market Context In early July 2026, Axios Pro reported that XGS Energy engaged Morgan Stanley to assess a public listing, with company leadership potentially deciding within about a month whether to proceed. The timing is strategic: Fervo Energy's May 2026 IPO created a rare "open window" for geothermal equities, providing valuation benchmarks and investor education that earlier private rounds lacked. For investors, the narrative is straightforward. If Fervo proved t...

The Economics of 10 MW, 50 MW, and 100 MW Geothermal Plants

The Economics of 10 MW, 50 MW, and 100 MW Geothermal Plants Image: A thematic image of a geothermal power plant  Geothermal power has a simple promise and a complicated price tag. It turns heat from deep underground into steady electricity, but the money goes out long before the power comes in, because exploration, drilling, plant construction, and grid connection all happen up front. That is why plant size matters so much. In general, 10 MW projects tend to be the most expensive per kilowatt, 50 MW projects usually strike a better balance, and 100 MW plants can be the most efficient on a cost per electricity basis if the reservoir is strong enough. Why geothermal costs so much upfront The economics of geothermal are driven by risk and scale. A developer has to locate the resource, confirm temperature and flow, drill wells, build surface facilities, and connect everything to the grid before a single dollar of revenue is earned. That makes geothermal very different from technologies...

Who Finances Next-Generation Geothermal Projects? Key Investors and Funding Trends

Who Is Financing the Next Generation of Geothermal Projects? Image : A thematic image of a geothermal power plant  The next generation of geothermal projects is being financed by a wide mix of venture capital firms, strategic corporate investors, commercial banks, institutional funds, and project finance lenders. The financing landscape is changing quickly because geothermal is moving from a niche clean-energy option into a serious infrastructure asset class with the potential to deliver reliable, 24/7 power at scale. Why geothermal finance is changing For years, geothermal struggled to attract large pools of capital because many projects were seen as technically risky, geographically limited, and difficult to scale. That perception is shifting as advanced geothermal technologies, especially enhanced geothermal systems, expand the number of places where geothermal can work. Investors now see a larger addressable market, stronger power demand, and better alignment with the needs of...

Texas Deep Geopressured Geothermal Permit Advances Long-Duration Energy Storage, Binary Power, and Grid Firming

Texas Issues Second Deep Geopressured Geothermal Permit, What it Means for U.S. Geothermal Development The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) issued its second permit for a deep geopressured geothermal well in July 2026, approving Quidnet Energy Deployment LLC to drill a geothermal energy storage well in Galveston County. This permit follows the RRC’s first deep geopressured authorization in February 2025 for Sage Geosystems in Atascosa County. Together, these approvals mark a meaningful step in Texas’s pivot from traditional fossil-fuel regulation toward enabling novel subsurface energy technologies, leveraging decades of oil and gas oversight to manage drilling, completion, and subsurface engineering risks. This article explains geopressured geothermal fundamentals, why Texas matters, technical and environmental considerations, market and policy implications, and what to watch next for developers and stakeholders. What is Deep Geopressured Geothermal? Deep geopressured geothermal syste...

Reviving Lightning Dock: How Zanskar Rebuilt A Failing Geothermal Plant

How an Overlooked Geothermal Plant Got a Second Chance A struggling geothermal power plant in New Mexico has become a case study in what happens when modern subsurface modeling meets a neglected resource. Zanskar’s revival of Lightning Dock suggests that many conventional geothermal sites may still have untapped value if operators can find the right well placement and drilling strategy. Introduction For years, Lightning Dock looked like a classic underperforming geothermal asset: temperatures fell, output weakened, and the plant moved closer to uneconomic operation. But after Zanskar acquired the facility, drilled a deeper well, and applied advanced modeling, the site returned to full capacity and now produces far more electricity than it did before. That turnaround matters because geothermal energy is one of the few clean power sources that can run 24/7. If more existing fields can be repowered instead of abandoned, geothermal could grow faster without relying only on brand-new fronti...

UPLIFT MTD® Micro Turbine Drilling Retrofit, Deep Geothermal Well Enhancement, Cost-Effective Heat Scaling

UPLIFT and MTD®: Unlocking More Heat from Existing Deep Geothermal Wells Deep geothermal must scale rapidly to supply reliable, low-carbon heat for cities and industry. The EU-funded UPLIFT project (Grant agreement ID: 101269511) and Fraunhofer’s Micro Turbine Drilling (MTD®) technology together target one of geothermal energy’s biggest practical barriers: insufficient flow and reservoir contact in drilled wells. By enabling rigless, precision side-drilling inside existing boreholes, MTD® and the UPLIFT consortium aim to increase produced water volumes, reduce exploration risk, and accelerate project timelines, creating a pragmatic pathway to cheaper, more dependable geothermal heat. Why improving existing wells matters for the heat transition Deep geothermal provides baseload, low-carbon heat but project economics hinge on fluid flow and reservoir contact. , Many projects underperform because single boreholes intersect limited permeable zones; drilling new wells is expensive and risky...