About this Training

The energy transition and the drive towards net-zero emissions has resulted in significant efforts to develop new sustainable energy resources. Since 2022, security of energy supply has become an additional consideration in many countries. For both challenges, geothermal energy has been identified as one of the major contributors in the future energy mix. The latter requires optionality and a decentralization of parts of the energy supplies, particularly when it comes to heating or cooling.

Nevertheless, progress in essential large-scale project developments tends to be sluggish in many countries, especially when considering the significant potential at hand. Reasons for this are lack of access to digital subsurface data, missing experience in subsurface project development, particularly in the new energy sector, and lastly the lack of support, incentives and financial risk mitigation for communities and entrepreneurs to invest in geothermal energy characterized by low profit margins. Another aspect is that, unlike in the hydrocarbon industry, no integrated subsurface and surface project workflows are established for geothermal developments to date. This results in poor planning and in some cases also undesired outcomes due to limited understanding of the subsurface risks involved (e.g. Basel, Stauffen, Vendenheim). Non-technical risks like overregulation and lack of public support provide additional hurdles.

This course is addressing such gaps and provides an introduction to decision-based planning of integrated subsurface and surface project development for geothermal energy. It presents a structured approach and workflow for new energy developments suitable for large cities, small communities, industrial projects or agricultural purposes.