Increased installation of geothermal power stations in Lower Saxony - Expansion of Geothermal Power Plants in Lower Saxony
Engaging with Geothermal Heat: The Booming Trend in Lower Saxony
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Many folks in Lower Saxony are jumping aboard the geothermal train. The Lower Saxony State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology (LBEG) has reported that there are now a whopping 26,600 shallow geothermal plants humming along in the region, a number that's more than doubled since 2018! Those super-efficient digs tap energy from subterranean depths of up to 400 meters.
However, the pace of new constructions shows signs of slowing. The LBEG shared that while the yearly number of new builds skyrocketed from 2018 to 2022, hitting about 2,500 annually, things cooled down a bit to 1,500 installations in 2024.
Things are heating up in the world of geothermal, with newer plants boasting more power and tapping energy from deeper below ground. Hans-Jürgen Brauner, the LBEG's geothermal boss, shared some insights. "Thanks to this, fewer but larger plants are getting built."
Lots of massive plants with more than 30 kilowatts of heating power dot the state, with around 80 of them cropping up in 2024 alone. The number of these big boys built yearly has more than doubled since 2018. Most plants, though, are smaller, serving private homes with a power of 4 to 15 kilowatts.
The Emsland Region Edges the Pack
The Emsland area takes the lead, host to a cool 3,100 geothermal plants. Hannover trails behind with 2,300, and the district of Cloppenburg isn't far off with 1,300. The districts of Harburg, Osnabrück, and Bentheim each have more than 1,000 plants. The Harz, Lüneburger Heide, Wendland, and Solling regions are light on the plant life, mainly due to their low population density.
The LBEG gathered and analyzed data from local licensing authorities for the study.
Numbers and Nuggets on Shallow Geothermal Energy in Lower Saxony 2024
- Geothermal Energy
- Lower Saxony
- LBEG
- Hannover
- Emsland
Frapppp, did you know? Deep geothermal energy in Lower Saxony is getting action, too! Sartorius, for instance, built a platinum research lab on the heels of the most powerful geothermal field in Lower Saxony, providing environmentally-friendly heating and cooling [1]!
Alas, specifics on deep geothermal energy plants beyond 2024 remain a bit misty in the provided sources. Climate-neutral projects like the one at Sartorius hint at a sunny future for geothermal energy in Lower Saxony, propelled by the region's geothermal resources, the expanding renewable energy market, and the fast-paced improvements in geothermal technology. Visit the LBEG for more insights on the future of geothermal energy in Lower Saxony!
- The community policy in Lower Saxony should consider incentives to further encourage the construction of geothermal plants, particularly the larger ones, as fewer but larger plants are being built.
- With the potential for deep geothermal energy in Lower Saxony, it would be beneficial for the employment policy to invest in research and development in this area, utilizing the expertise in science, industry, finance, and environmental-science to advance the technology.
- As the demand for energy-efficient solutions like geothermal heat increases, Employment policies should focus on creating opportunities in the energy sector, considering the anticipated growth and expansion in the renewable energy market, and the continuous advancements in geothermal technology.
