We had previously reported on the plans to explore an identified geothermal resource centered in the municipality of Schönbrunn, where thermal water at 40 degrees Celsius has been observed at 500 meters depth. The EUR 1 million research contracts now call for an exploration of the area between Schönbrunn and Geilsdorf for the possibility of drilling to a depth of up to 5000 meters.
According to estimates, the geothermal resource in this area can supply heat for up to 80,000 residents. “I’m very confident that we can harness the enormous energy potential from deep in the Vogtland,” said District Administrator Thomas Hennig . “For the district and its citizens, this is a big step towards climate neutrality and energy independence.”
Similar efforts are also being planned for the city of Schneeberg, around 50 kilometers north-east of Schönbrunn. Incidentally, Schneeberg was the site of the “Geothermal energy in granite Saxony” (GIGS) project of the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) from a few years ago.
The city’s public utilities are waiting for the approval to drill two test wells within a pre-identified fault zone where high subsurface temperatures are suspected. If the project proceeds according to plan, drilling can commence before the end of the year.
