At the European Geothermal Congress from 17 to 21 October 2022 in Berlin, the industry will meet to discuss the latest developments in this emerging renewable energy.

The European Geothermal Congress EGC brings together science, business and politics to find solutions for the current heat crisis, among other things. The four main topics of the congress in Berlin are "Geothermal Solutions for Future Renewable Energy Systems", "Policy & Markets", "Technology & Innovation", and "Research & Development". This year's congress is organised by the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) and the German Geothermal Association (Bundesverband Geothermie e.V.). The GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences is the main institutional partner of the congress and is involved in the programme as well as in leading scientific sessions.

Ceremonial opening on 18 October, 11 a.m.

The opening ceremony of the EGC 2022 took place on Tuesday, 18 October 2022 at 11:00 am. In addition to politicians, renowned scientists will speak, including Prof. Dr. Ingo Sass, head of the Geoenergy Section at the GFZ. Together with Prof. Dr. Rolf Bracke, Director of the Fraunhofer IEG, presented the "Roadmap Deep Geothermal Energy for Germany", which was developed in cooperation.

Basis for discussions and developments: The "Roadmap Deep Geothermal Energy for Germany".

Half of the municipal heating demand is to be covered by climate-neutral sources by 2030. Deep geothermal energy can make a major contribution to achieving this goal of the German government, because it supplies energy locally on a constant basis, independent of weather conditions, and occupies little space in settlements. The joint roadmap by institutions of the Helmholtz Association and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft shows that deep geothermal energy has the potential in Germany to meet expansion targets of more than a quarter of Germany's annual heat demand (over 300 TWh). The paper gives recommendations for action to achieve this goal.

"Without geothermal energy, decarbonisation of the heating sector in Germany will not be possible. The natural underground heat potentials for this are available in most urban areas. The sustainable expansion of geothermal energy is an investment in the cities of our future," says Prof. Ingo Sass, head of the "Geoenergy" section at the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences.

A focus of science: The GeoLab research mine

The GFZ presents further scientific highlights: Ingo Sass will present a pioneering project, the GeoLab, in Semiplenary Session 1A on Wednesday, 19 October, 9 am. It is a research mine that is being built together with the Karlruher Institute of Technology (KIT) and other partners. "We will specifically go into the crystalline underground," says Ingo Sass, "because we know that the vast majority of major German cities have this type of rock underground at depths that can be reached with boreholes. The transfer effect of GeoLaB will be of great importance for the heat transition in metropolitan areas."

GFZ information stands

Those who want to know more about the GFZ's current research in geothermal energy can get information at the stands No. B22 and B23.

Excursions with the GFZ

The congress will be rounded off on the last day (Friday, 21.10.) by the chance to experience geothermal projects on site. The GFZ offers two excursions to interested guests. The tour through the laboratories and pilot plant halls of the research centre has met with great interest and is already fully booked. There are still a few places available for the geological tour as part of an all-terrain vehicle tour on the edge of the Rüdersdorf limestone mine led by the GFZ.
The target group is the scientific community. Media representatives should enquire if there are still free places.

Further information on the congress and the complete programme can be found online at: www.europeangeothermalcongress.eu.

About the Congress

The European Geothermal Congress will take place from 17 to 21 October 2022 at the BCC, Berlin, Germany. Every three years, stakeholders from all areas of the geothermal sector meet at the EGC, which this year is jointly organised by the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) and the German Geothermal Association (Bundesverband Geothermie e.V.) in Berlin. The programme was prepared under the direction of Prof. Dr. Ernst Huenges, former head of the "Geoenergy" section at the GFZ. Together with 60 other geothermal experts from all over Europe, more than 400 submitted scientific papers were reviewed, evaluated and compiled into a diverse and appealing programme.

(Edited version of the joint PM of Bundesverband Geothermie, GFZ, European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC))
 

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