Geothermal energy: More and more heat from underground
Geothermal energy is a success story. Since 2000, geothermal heat production has more than tripled. Switzerland is even among the world leaders in near-surface geothermal energy. Houses, neighborhoods, and industrial plants can be heated and cooled economically with geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is a key to a climate-friendly energy supply.
When geothermal energy is mentioned, most people think of Basel and St. Gallen - and the mild earthquakes. That was in 2006 and 2013. But geothermal energy is much more than that. Geothermal energy is a success story.
Researching at high pressure
Certainly, a distinction must be made between deep, medium-depth and shallow geothermal energy. Deep geothermal energy involves drilling four to five kilometers underground to use the heat there to produce electricity or for heating. Basel and St. Gallen were such projects. The technology required for this is known, but has not been tested on a large scale. In Switzerland, around 50 scientists from the ETH and various universities are working to advance the technology quickly.
Heating and cooling houses and quarters
Medium-deep geothermal energy is completely different. Using proven technology - in use for decades - water is drilled at depths of 500 to 2000 to heat and cool buildings, greenhouses, thermal baths, commercial and industrial facilities, or entire neighborhoods. Factories can also be supplied with process heat. In Riehen (BS), for example, geothermal energy feeds a district heating network. An expansion is planned. There are other successful plants in Kreuzlingen (TG), Schlattingen (TG), Kloten (ZH), Bassersorf (ZH), Zurzach (AG), Davos (GR), Saillon (VS), Lavey-les-Bains (VD), Yverdon-les-Bains (VD) and Geneva.
"In the case of medium-depth geothermal energy," says Willy Gehrer, President of Geothermal Switzerland and President of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW), "the potential is far from exhausted! I am convinced that the federal government's financial support will trigger another boom in the coming years. This is already becoming apparent today." Indeed: "Since their introduction at the beginning of January 2018, the subsidies have met with lively interest," says Nicole Lupi, who is responsible for geothermal energy subsidies at the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE).
World leader in shallow geothermal energy
Finally, Switzerland is even among the world leaders in shallow geothermal energy. Shallow or near-surface geothermal energy reaches down to a depth of about 500 meters. The heat there can be used to heat and cool single- and multi-family homes, hotels, offices, or commercial and industrial operations. In Switzerland, geothermal probes are particularly widespread. The applications are extremely diverse. Even airport terminals (Dock E at Zurich-Kloten Airport) use geothermal energy. And even railroad switches and roads can be de-iced using geothermal energy. The SBB is testing geothermal switch heating systems.
Geothermal energy is climate protection
In order to reduce CO2-emissions from buildings, more and more private individuals as well as cities and municipalities are turning to geothermal energy. This is also reflected in the statistics. From 2000 to 2017, heat production from geothermal energy in Switzerland grew by 348 percent, from 1186 to 4130 gigawatt hours. Heat production from geothermal probes even increased by 485 percent. With the 4130 gigawatt hours of geothermal energy, Switzerland has saved 1,065,000 tons of CO2 Saved. That is as much as all drivers of a new car in Switzerland emitted in 2017.
