Groß Schönebeck is the first EGS (Enhanced Geothermal System) pilot site in the North German Basin. It is located about 40 km north of Berlin in Germany. The site is owned and operated by GFZ Potsdam, the Lead Partner of TRANSGEO.
The plugged and abandoned gas exploration well E GrSk 3/90 was chosen from more than 50 deep hydrocarbon exploration wells in northeast Germany. This well was re-opened and used as the injection well of an in-situ geothermal laboratory. The well was deepened to a final depth of 4,309 m in 2000/2001. An additional deviated production well was drilled, and both wells were stimulated multiple times to develop a matrix-dominated EGS. The wells access the Rotliegend sandstones, conglomerates, and volcanics between ~3900 m and ~4300 m with a temperature of ~150°C. This temperature is high enough for district heating, industrial heating applications, and electricity generation. Currently, the wells are temporarily shut-in.
In TRANSGEO, we investigate the potential to reuse both wells to develop a fracture-dominated multi-stage EGS in the Rotliegend formation as a pilot site for the entire North German Basin.
More information: Geothermal research platform Groß Schönebeck.