Frankfurt/Main (dpa/lhe) – The city of Frankfurt is researching geothermal energy at a depth of 800 meters. In order to find alternatives to fossil energy sources, the city has had a research drilling carried out on the site of the former Rebstockbad. Deep geothermal energy is a big step towards climate neutrality, said planning officer Mike Josef (SPD) on Tuesday. He thinks further drilling in other parts of the city is conceivable.
According to Josef, a side effect of the research drilling is that it can contribute to the heat supply of the new Rebstockbad, which is currently being built. The data obtained in this way would also provide a planning basis for a CO2-free heat supply for adjacent residential buildings. The research drilling is accompanied by the Hessian State Agency for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology (HLNUG) and financed by the Hessian Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Deep geothermal energy often involves drilling several kilometers deep into the earth in order to extract heat from there. Previous investigations have shown that under Frankfurt at a depth of 800 meters temperatures in the range of 40 degrees can be found. The first well was drilled in early November and the project is expected to be completed by the end of March. The city of Frankfurt wants to be climate-neutral by 2035, and electricity and heat supply should become independent of fossil fuels.