en.Wedoany.com Reported - The city of Wuppertal in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, is advancing a feasibility study for geothermal heating, conducted in collaboration between the local utility company Wuppertaler Stadtwerke (WSW) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Energy (Fraunhofer IEG). The study aims to assess the potential of utilizing deep geothermal energy to provide heating for the city, with results expected to be published by the end of 2026.

This geothermal heating feasibility study is funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia. Dominik Pröpper, Head of Power and District Heating Generation at WSW Energie & Wasser AG, stated: "This feasibility study forms the basis for our decision on whether and how to further advance the project. Many technical and economic questions still need to be resolved. If economically viable usage conditions are met, deep geothermal energy can become a pioneering component of a secure and climate-friendly heating supply for Wuppertal."

The study builds upon assessments of Wuppertal's geothermal potential conducted in recent years. In 2024, WSW received a permit from the Arnsberg district government for the exploration of geothermal energy for commercial purposes. Based on existing geological data, joint investigations by WSW and Fraunhofer IEG indicate that Devonian limestone layers at a depth of approximately 2000 meters could be a potential reservoir for geothermal fluids. Within the framework of the North Rhine-Westphalia Master Plan for Geothermal Energy, seismic exploration activities were also carried out on the northern edge of the Wuppertal urban area. The resulting dataset contributes to creating a regional geological model that supports municipal heating planning and future projects.

The goal of the current study is to lay the groundwork for potential future measures to develop deep geothermal sources, including exploration drilling and further seismic surveys. Laureen Benoit, Project Manager at Fraunhofer IEG, added: "Our 2023 analysis showed potential in the northern and northeastern parts of Wuppertal. We are now investigating how to reliably develop this potential. At the same time, we are considering what further exploration measures are necessary to effectively utilize Wuppertal's geothermal energy."

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