Geothermal energy is playing an increasingly important role in developing an environmentally compatible, sustainable supply of energy. Hot-Dry-Rock technology (HDR) is expected to make a sizeable contribution to achieving the political goal of the German government for at least 12.5 % of the electricity in Germany to be generated by renewable energy by 2010. With the HDR method, thermal energy can be extracted from hot rocks deep below the surface to provide base-load electricity even in areas with no natural hot water resources.

The objective of our research in this focal field is to improve our understanding of the physical processes affecting geothermal reservoirs and to help develop the technology needed for commercial geothermal power generation and direct utilisation of thermal energy.

The Leibniz Institute for Applied Geosciences is involved in several geothermal research projects. A 6 MW pilot power plant using HDR technology is planned to go on-stream at Soultz-sous-Forêts in 2006. The Institute assists in this project with temperature measurements and modelling of the underground heat exchange system. In another project to demonstrate the application of HDR technology, work is being conducted on a geothermal heating system for the Hannover GeoZentrum. In a third project, seismic surveys are being conducted to identify the optimum well locations for a geothermal power plant in southern Germany.