A current study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Infrastructures and Geotechnologies (IEG) shows that deep geothermal energy could make a significant contribution to climate-neutral heat supply in cities, reports ingenieur.de. The example of Wuppertal illustrates that even regions that have been little developed so far offer relevant potential – provided that technical, economic, and regulatory issues are addressed in a targeted manner. This is the conclusion of a feasibility study being conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Infrastructures and Geotechnologies (IEG) in cooperation with the Wuppertal municipal utility company (WSW).
The heat transition is considered one of the greatest challenges of the energy transition. While renewable electricity generation is already established in many sectors, decarbonizing the heat supply remains complex – especially in densely populated urban areas. In addition to heat pumps, district heating, and waste heat recovery, deep geothermal energy is increasingly coming into focus. Fraunhofer IEG and the Wuppertal municipal utility are working closely together on this. The ongoing study systematically analyzes the geological conditions, technical possibilities, and economic framework for the use of deep geothermal resources in Wuppertal.
The results so far indicate that regions outside the classic geothermal hotspots, such as the South German Molasse Basin, can indeed offer significant potential. Previous projects often focused on particularly favorable geological conditions, but now the focus is increasingly on how geothermal energy can be developed even under less ideal circumstances. Preliminary geoscientific work in Wuppertal has identified suitable formations at depths of several kilometers – including Devonian limestone strata at approximately 2000 meters – which could, in principle, be used for heat extraction. Crucially, the absolute temperature is less important than the combination of geological characteristics, the permeability of the rock strata, and the technical feasibility of developing them.
The analysis also makes it clear that geothermal projects must always be evaluated on a site-specific basis and cannot simply be transferred to other regions. Another focus of the study is the integration of deep geothermal energy into existing heating systems. In urban areas, integration into district heating networks plays a particularly important role. As a continuous and baseload-capable heat source, deep geothermal energy could contribute to stabilizing renewable heating systems and thus form an important building block for a climate-friendly and future-proof urban heat supply.
Source
Ongoing feasibility study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Infrastructures and Geotechnologies (IEG) in cooperation with the Wuppertal municipal utilities (WSW), based on press releases and project information from March/April 2026.
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