After two unsuccessful geothermal drilling operations, Enex Power Germany in Gelting now wants to achieve its goal with innovative technology from Canada.
Gelting / Calgary - Eavor Technologies, based in Calgary, is a new partner of Enex. The companies want to found a company to extract heat from the depths on the urban property leased by Enex at the Geltinger animal shelter.
Dr. Robert Straubinger is Enex's managing director.
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"As originally intended, we are continuing our plan to supply the region with both heat and electricity," said Enex CEO Dr. Robert Straubinger with. As reported, Enex has invested over 30 million euros in its Geretsried geothermal project since 2004 - unfortunately unsuccessfully. The final depth was a whopping 6036 meters. There, Enex also measured a record-breaking 169 degrees. But the hot water bubbled only sparsely - too little for economic use and thus district heating for the city of Geretsried.
Like underfloor heating
With the use of Eavor technology, Enex is now making a new start. A liquid circulates in an underground, closed circuit, which absorbs the heat from the rock and transports it to the surface for energy generation. "I send surface water into the depths because there is none down there so that it heats up and bring it back up," explains Straubinger, explaining the principle. "The whole thing in a closed, perpetual cycle, like an underfloor heating system." To do this, many channels are drilled in the relatively "soft" limestone in the horizontal direction in order to produce the largest possible area for heat exchange. According to Straubinger, thermal water from deep is not necessary for this. "I have no risk of discovery, so geothermal energy can be implemented in practically any location," says the expert.
The project in Geretsried is an “excellent opportunity to show how our technology can complement conventional geothermal development,” says Bailey Schwarz, chief engineer at Eavor. Enex Managing Director Straubinger is delighted to be “absolutely thrilled” to be able to use this new and innovative technology.
Both partners assume that the official approvals for the project in Geretsried will be available by early 2021 and that the financing will have been completed. The plant is scheduled to go into operation in 2022. So the city of Geretsried can still hope for a supply of district heating. Eavor has been operating a pilot and demonstration plant in Canada since 2019.
Research project continues
The research project on the Hofgut Breitenbach continues unaffected by the project with the Canadians. "Laboratory tests and theoretical models are currently being carried out," says Dr. Robert Straubinger on request from our newspaper. Subsequently, presumably in the fourth quarter, the work on site should begin. As reported, the Hofgut Breitenbach will investigate how the dense, dry and up to 169 degree limestone can best be used. The researchers' idea: They want to pour quartz sand into the cracked underground so that the gaps remain open. Then water is to be pumped deep. There it heats up and is transported up again. The hot water can be used for district heating via a heat exchanger before the cooled water is pumped into the ground again. The second step is to drill again to connect the cracks together.
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Read also: Is the failed geothermal well a local phenomenon?