STAWAG completed its fourth and final line of 2D seismic surveys on December 17. The survey thus ended two days earlier than planned. "We would like to thank the people in the city and region who were confronted with unusual noise levels or traffic obstructions along the route," says Gorig Quaas, geologist and project manager at STAWAG. "Many citizens showed great interest and supported the work positively."

Once the measurements have been completed, STAWAG will now evaluate all the data collected. This evaluation is expected to take until summer 2026. Only then will the experts be able to assess whether and where there are geothermal deposits that can be used for heat supply in the future.

Goal: Environmentally friendly and regional heat supply
STAWAG is working flat out to convert its heat generation and is focusing on a balanced mix of different energy sources. A large proportion of the district heating still comes from the Weisweiler lignite-fired power plant. In future, heat from the waste incineration plant, from highly efficient combined heat and power plants and from renewable energies will be used. Deep geothermal energy is to play a central role in this.

The advantages of geothermal energy are obvious: it is reliably available, requires no fuel and can supply large amounts of energy in a comparatively small area. The use of thermal water has a long tradition in Aachen - even the Romans appreciated the hot springs. Thermal water at temperatures of up to 70 degrees Celsius (°C) rises to the surface in several places. In Burtscheid, STAWAG is already using it to supply heat to several buildings.

The seismic investigations - comparable to an "ultrasound for the ground" - make the structure of the subsurface visible and help to determine the depth and extent of possible water-bearing layers. If the evaluated data confirms the suspected potential, STAWAG will take the next step and press ahead with tapping the thermal water for the local heat supply.

www.stawag.de/tiefengeothermie

Source: STAWAG