Deep Geothermal Pilot Project Haute-Sorne

Deep Geothermal Pilot Project Haute-Sorne GEO ENERGIE SUISSE The locality of Haute-Sorne has ideal geological condi- tions, the required infrastructure and appropriate land use planning for undertaking a pilot project in deep geothermal energy. Inhalt Vision 4–5 Technology 6–7 Project development 8–11 Interview with the President of the Board of directors 12–15 Figures, Data and Facts 18–19 2 Deep Geothermal Pilot Project Haute-Sorne Haute-Sorne is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Jura. It was formed in 2013 from the merger of the former administrative munici- palities of Bassecourt, Courfaivre, Glovelier, Soulce and Undervelier. The name Haute- Sorne is derived from the Sorne, a small river that fl ows through the municipality. Haute- Sorne lies at 477 m above sea level and has a population of around 7,000. Haute-Sorne Aerial photograph of Haute-Sorne with the planned power plant superimposed. ©2018 Google LLC, used with permission. Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google LLC. 3 We wish to make use of the vast geothermal reservoir which lies beneath our feet. The future of energy lies directly beneath us. The plot bearing the fi eld name of Pré Beuchin consists of three diff erent sized parcels of land: a former tree nursery and some arable land which today form part of the industrial zone. Apart from a few asphalt path segments, hardly anything remains which suggests the old tree nursery – grasses, bushes and trees have supplanted an order which no longer exists. A fresh morning breeze caresses half grown shrubs which grow in neat rows. The young 47°20’00’’ N 7°13’16’’ E maize plants sway softly back and forth like small waves on a green lake. Smoke rises from the nearby asphalt works. A local train These coordinates remove all doubt from the whooshes along the edge of the plot. A day like equation because they eff ectively bring matters any other. Nothing points to the immediate to a head. This is it, it must be here: the future lying beneath us. Power lies in the plot of land with a surface area of approxima- depths. One can close one’s eyes and see it. tely 18,000 square metres, 493 metres above Large amounts of energy repose in the layers sea level. of rock some kilometres beneath the maize We are in the north west corner of Switzerland, fi eld and the old tree nursery. We are standing more precisely in the Canton of Jura within on a vast geothermal reservoir and have the the bounds of the municipality of Haute-Sorne, means and the opportunity to make safe and in the industrial zone between Glovelier and varied use of this clean, nearly inexhaustible Bassecourt which is clearly defi ned by the rail- source of energy. Here, where yesterday a tree way line and the cantonal road. The latitude nursery stood and today the breeze caresses of 47°20’00’’ N and longitude of 7°13’16’’ E the maize fi eld, we can extract energy intersect on the plot exactly at the point where tomorrow: clean electricity and thermal energy an asphalt path gives way to a fi eld of maize. for thousands of people and households, It can look like this when the past plays with around the clock. The future is right beneath the present, and is getting ready for the future. us and it began a long time ago. _ 4 Deep Geothermal Pilot Project Haute-Sorne 5 Bassecourt Boécourt Glovelier Cross-section along one of the many possible orientations of the boreholes in the subsurface. Technology The geothermal power plant Hot water is pumped up the fi rst borehole (in red) to the surface where energy is extracted from the water by a heat exchanger. The cooled water is subsequently rein- jected underground through the second borehole (in blue). The water cycle between the two wells and heat exchanger creates a closed geothermal loop. In a separate secondary cycle, the heat is transferred to a turbine, which is connected to the electricity generator. 1 Air coolers for the turbine 2 Water reservoirs 3 Borehole cellar and well heads 4 Power plant The geothermal reservoir Water circulates between the two boreholes at a depth of 4,500 metres through fi ssures as narrow as a hair’s breadth. Contact with the hot rock warms the water. During construction of the power plant the opening of the fi ssures will be enhanced by a process referred to as hydraulic stimulation to increase the permeability of the rock. To optimise the energy performance of the geothermal system whilst minimising the seismic risk, Geo-Energie Suisse has developed a multi-stage stimulation process. Using this new process, a number of small stimulations will be performed along the horizontal sections of the boreholes. _ 7 Project Development Milestones 2012–2019 2012–2013: Site 2015: Incorporation of Selection and Project the Project Company Development and Grant of a Construction Permit In the fi rst phase, Geo-Energie Suisse evalu- ated more than 100 potential sites across Switzerland. The company conducted pre- Geo-Energie Jura SA was incorporated and liminary studies and started the authorization registered in the municipality of Haute-Sorne procedures at four of the most suitable for the purpose of carrying out the project sites before fi nally opting for the municipality and third-party liability insurance was se- of Haute-Sorne for the pilot project. Subse- cured up to a value of CHF 100 million. The quently, project planning began and addi- construction permit was granted by the tional detailed investigations as well as public public authorities for the construction of a information meetings and a group represent- pilot geothermal plant with two deep bore- ing local interests were introduced. holes and power plant premises. The municipality of Haute-Sorne, the canton of Jura and Geo-Energie Jura SA drew up an agreement covering the fees for electricity generation, the status of the operating Triengen (LU) Etzwilen (TG/ZH) company, and also the setting up an infor- Haute-Sorne (JU) mation commission. Avenches (VD) Signing of the cooperation agreement in Bassecourt on the 15th July 2015. From left to right: Peter Meier (CEO GES), Philippe Receveur (Minister of the canton of Jura), Jean-Bernard Vallat (President of the Munici- pality of Haute-Sorne). 8 Energy Strategy 2050 2018–2019: and new Energy Act Federal Supreme Court Ruling and Exploration Through its Energy Strategy 2050, Switzer- Funding by the land has realigned its energy policy. By 2050 the country wishes to cease its involvement Federal Government with nuclear power and gradually transform its energy system. In the process, energy effi ciency should increase, the proportion of The Federal Supreme Court eventually renewable energy should rise and energy- rejected the pending appeals and thereby related CO2 emissions are expected to fall. put into force the special land use plan that enables the realisation of the project. Con- Deep geothermal energy has great potential sequently, Geo-Energie Suisse bought the for the renewable supply of power and heat necessary land for the pilot project. The Swiss in Switzerland. However, a signifi cant chal- Federal Offi ce of Energy (SFOE) granted lenge for deep geothermal lies in the fact that funding of 60 percent of exploration costs our knowledge of the deep underground is which equates to a sum of CHF 64 million. only partial, which brings with it uncertainty regarding the costs and feasibility of the plants. None the less, the prospect of nearly inexhaustible, clean and uninterrupted sourc- es of energy is irresistible: it is nearly free of -ťƁĢ ƁĢȆĢ ŢäƁăĢ ĽȊǄ CO2, delivers base load power and requires little space. In the long term it is conceivable ĔťĢ HĢƐǪŢĢǄŽťĢ that a substantial proportion of Swiss energy consumption could be supplied by geother- Newsnet Tamedia, 11 september 2019 mal power plants. Currently the Federal Government estimates a potential of 4.4 TWh annually, which equates to an installed capa- city of approximately 550 MW. Since the new Energy Act came into eff ect on 1st January 2018, the Federal Government has supported deep geothermal energy with new incentives, including the funding of up to 60% of exploration costs. 9 Project Development Planned milestones 2020–2030 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 1. Exploration phase 2. Stimulation phase Project decisions 1 1 2 1 2 1 Preservation First step: of evidence Measurements and test stimulation Second step: Updating of the risk Monitoring First assessment and of Second deep Completion system deep well the stimulation concept drilling with of the based on: multi-stage first well • evaluation of the stimulation acquired data • experience from abroad • research results Preparation Exploration Measurements, tests and updating Second deep Closing of the • Installation of drilling of the risk assessment study drilling and circulation loop seismic monitor- First exploration$ '()*( •$$$/ Measurements in the borehole and main stimula- • Drilling of the ing network well down to on the surface tion horizontal • Recording of a fi nal depth of • Hydraulic tests to characterise • Second drilling section of the existing cracks c. 4,500 m the reservoir rock down to the fi nal fi rst borehole in sensitive • Updating of the risk assessment study depth and hori- • Potential buildings • Review and modifi cation of the zontal section stimu lation of • Construction implementation concept • Multi-stage the fi rst bore- of the drill pad stimulation of hole the reservoir • Circulation test between the boreholes Current state of planning The Grünwald Reference Project To the south of Munich, the municipality of Grünwald in Oberhaching-Laufzorn has realized a geothermal project with two boreholes, with the aim of producing heat and of generating electricity.

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