title: The value of heat interconnection pipelines in the use of deep geothermal energy
Creators: name:  Loewer ,   Markus 
name:  Keim ,   Maximilian 
name:  Molar-Cruz ,   Anahi 
name:  Schifflechner ,   Christopher 
Publisher: name: Deutsche Geologische Gesellschaft - Geologische Vereinigung e.V. (DGGV)
Year: 2021

description: Over the past fifteen years, Bavaria has become a hotspot for deep geothermal utilization in Europe. There are now 24 plants operating in the Molasse Basin that provide climate-friendly heat, electricity and cooling. For example, the state capital plans to cover its district heating supply in a climate-neutral manner and largely from deep geothermal energy by 2040. However, the use of deep geothermal energy is not limited to Munich. The demand for space heating and hot water calculated in this study is just under 160 TWh. A total of 99 district heating demand areas in Bavaria were identified where district heating is a potential supply technology. These areas correspond to almost 50% of the total heat demand in Bavaria. According to the estimates, the deep geothermal potential in the Molasse Basin alone could supply 80% of the district heating demand (7655 MWth). To raise the enormous potential, theoretically about 500 doublets, i.e. production and injection wells, would be necessary. The discovery of further geothermal wells, and thus the basic prerequisite for the economic success of deep geothermal energy, can be predicted comparatively well for the Molasse Basin. However, there are significant local differences in terms of predictability. Comparatively good well-finding forecasts are given in particular in Munich, south of Munich and in the eastern Molasse, where there is already a comparatively high number of successful wells today. Geothermal energy is particularly strong in base load supply. The prerequisite for operating a deep geothermal plant economically is that the heat can be purchased in sufficient quantities via a district heating network. In many parts of the Molasse Basin, particularly favorable geothermal conditions exist, but these do not directly coincide with heat consumers on the surface. In these cases, there is the possibility of using interconnected pipelines to transport the heat to the consumers, thus optimally exploiting the potential. The construction of larger interconnectors increases the amount of geothermal energy extracted and consequently its share in the heat supply - the number of required plants is minimized. If fossil fuels are displaced from the heating network, large amounts of CO2 can be saved - about two million tons per year in the case of base load coverage by deep geothermal energy. The analyses show that the interconnection pipelines can also have a positive effect on the heat generation costs and increase the reliability of plants. The implementation of a deep geothermal project involves high investment costs. These costs are further increased by the construction of larger interconnectors. However, for interconnection pipelines across municipalities to transport green district heating to neighboring municipalities and beyond, there are currently no equivalent funding mechanisms available as there are for on-site heat production. The technology will become economically attractive for municipalities or investors when the initial costs, especially for drilling, network expansion or interconnection pipelines, become lower and can be supported by society.