New well tech cuts 2 MW German geothermal plant costs

Germany is planning building a 2 megawatt geothermal power plant, despite undesirable conditions of the slated site in Lower Saxony, in the country’s northwestern region.

The GeneSys-branded plant is expected to need a 2.5-mile-deep well that would be drilled near Hanover, also in northwestern Germany. The drilling process increases the costs associated with geothermal energy.

The GeneSys plant would benefit from a one-well pumping system that’s been researched by German scientists at an unspecified government agency.

The system is expected to help to cut drilling costs in half, for a total cost of about $13 million, because it uses one hole instead of two to pump water into the ground to be heated and then pump it back up to produce heat or electricity.

The plant, which would benefit the government agency, is projected to save $21 million in heating costs during its 25-year lifetime. If the facility proves to be a success, it could be modeled in other European countries.

Germany currently has three large-scale geothermal power plants in operation. In 2007, Essen, Germany-based construction contractor Hochtief formed a joint venture with renewable energy services company Renerco to build and operate a 5 MW geothermal plant (see Germany's Hochtief enters geothermal market).

Geothermal energy has also surpassed wind as the most efficient alternative energy technology, according to a recent New York University report (see Report says geothermal is leaving wind, solar in the dust).