Ministry of Economic Affairs wants to significantly accelerate the expansion of geothermal energy
The use of geothermal energy is expected to significantly increase in Germany. The Federal Ministry of Economy sent a draft law to the federal states and associations for consultation, which aims to create the necessary framework conditions. Above all, permit procedures for geothermal power plants, heat pumps, and heat storage facilities are to be accelerated. By 2030, ten Terawatt-hours of heat from geothermal energy are to be extracted, as the ministry announced.
Geothermal energy or geothermal heat is considered one of the three pillars of renewable energies, alongside wind and solar - also because it is locally available. The technology makes heat from rock, groundwater, or deep water underground usable. It plays a rather subordinate role so far.
Surface geothermal energy refers to the use of geothermal heat from up to 400 meters below the surface. To heat a house in this way, an additional heat pump is required.
Deep geothermal energy can extract water from several kilometers deep and supply entire city districts with heating energy via the district heating network. If the temperatures are high enough, additional electricity can be generated with deep geothermal energy.
The technology has "great potential," according to a paper by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck. According to the paper, roughly one quarter of the heat in Germany could be generated "under certain conditions using deep geothermal systems."
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has initiated an approval procedure for speeding up permit procedures for various geothermal projects, including power plants, heat pumps, and heat storage facilities. The Ministry's draft law, sent to federal states and associations for consultation, aims to boost geothermal expansion in Germany. By 2030, the Ministry aims to extract 10 Terawatt-hours of heat from geothermal energy, emphasizing the use of a lighter, more streamlined approval procedure for geothermal projects.
