The climate-friendly generation of heat energy is part of the energy transition in Germany. Geothermal energy is the keyword here, especially deep geothermal energy. It is emission-free and potentially available everywhere and independently of the weather. Near Munich, the district heating network has been supplied with warm water from a deep borehole since 2011, and similar projects are currently underway in Berlin, Potsdam and Schwerin. But why has deep geothermal energy for the heat transition not yet become established across the board, and what alternatives are there for the heating sector …
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With my best regards // Mit freundlichem Glückauf
Dipl.-Ing. Andreas-Peter Sitte
Chief Editor Mining Report Glückauf, Essen
ISSUE 01/2025 // FOCUS OF THIS ISSUE:
Heat Transition
Effective Dust Control in Mining Means Significant Cost Savings
Effective dust control on conveyor belts using the ScrapeTec system. Photo: ScrapeTec
crapeTec specialists are continuously working on developing reliable solutions for specific issues at transfer points in conveyor systems where dust and spillage are a problem …
Author: Dipl.-Ing. Thorsten Koth, ScrapeTec Trading GmbH, Kamp-Lintfort/Germany
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Renewable Energies Instead of Domestic Coal: an Interim Assessment
Development of renewable energies, domestic coal mining and other domestic energy raw materials since 2000. Source: AGEB
he planned coal phase-out and the energy transition with their climate policy targets in Germany are linked to the expectation that domestic coal and thus coal mining will be completely replaced by renewable energies. To a considerable extent, this has already happened in this country. However, the consequences for the energy industry have hardly been explicitly considered and analysed from this perspective so far. So it is time to take a sober and fact-based look at the situation and highlight this aspect …
Author: Prof. Dr. rer. oec. Kai van de Loo, Forschungszentrum Nachbergbau (FZN), Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola (THGA), Bochum/Germany
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How Can Deep Geothermal Energy Support the Heating Transition in Germany?
Potential of near-surface and deep geothermal energy in terms of hydrothermal geothermal energy compared to Germany’s heating and cooling demand in 2022. Source: Bundesverband Geothermie e.V./Susann Piesnack nach Roadmap Oberflächennahe Geothermie (2022) (9) und Umweltbundesamt (31/2020)
eep geothermal energy, as a reliable and sustainable source of heat, will play a decisive role in the heat transition in Germany. This technology uses the geothermal energy stored in deep geological layers to heat buildings and support industrial processes. In contrast to fossil fuels, geothermal energy is (virtually) emission-free and is available continuously and virtually everywhere, regardless of weather conditions and fuel imports. A key advantage of deep geothermal energy is its ability to feed large quantities of heat directly into urban district heating networks. This can significantly reduce the need for fossil fuels and lower CO
2 emissions …
Authors: Dipl. Verwaltungswissenschaftler Gregor Dilger, Bundesverband Geothermie e.V., Berlin/Germany, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Bodo Lehmann, DMT GmbH & Co. KG, Essen/Germany
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Exploration, a Key Element in the Deep Geothermal Energy Value Chain
Building blocks in the deep geothermal energy value chain. Source: DMT
he article discusses strategies to optimize and accelerate deep geothermal exploration to reduce costs and risks and increase success rates. Exploration methods such as airborne and ground geophysics, seismic measurements and microseismics are discussed. Seismic exploration includes preparation, measurement and evaluation, with 3D seismic requiring more resources than 2D seismic. Challenges in urban regions and alternative utilization techniques such as petrothermal systems are outlined. All phases of a geothermal project from planning to operation are described and …
Authors: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Bodo Lehmann, Dr. rer. nat. Boris Dombrowski, DMT GmbH & Co. KG, Essen/Germany
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Issuing Mining Licences for the Exploration of Geothermal Energy – a Contribution to the Energy Transition
Existing fields for geothermal exploration and extraction. Source: Bezirksregierung Arnsberg, Stand 30.06.2023
ue to recent global political events, the importance of a year-round stable and secure energy supply from reliable sources has become unmistakable. The fuels required to secure our national energy supply are imported on a large scale, in some cases from countries that are considered politically unstable. In order to achieve the necessary increase in independence, it is therefore obvious that, in addition to diversifying the sources of supply, every effort should be made to preferably utilise domestic energy sources to cover energy requirements. The utilisation of geothermal potential can have particular advantages over other renewable energy sources. The exploration of the subsurface with regard to its geothermal potential and …
Author: BVDin Dipl.-Ing. Carola König, Bezirksregierung Arnsberg, Abteilung Bergbau und Energie in NRW, Dortmund/Germany
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Status Quo, Potential and Challenges of Using Mine Water for Energy Generation
Possibilities for the use of mine water geothermal energy according to Oppelt, L.; Pose, S.; Grab, T. et al. (2020): Geothermische Nutzung von Grubenwasser zur regenerativen Energieversorgung. In: Geothermische Energie, Heft 95, S. 25 – 27).
estructuring the energy supply has intensified in focus since the recent geopolitical events in conjunction with the concern over the shortage of fossil fuels. In addition, the targets of greenhouse gas neutrality in the transport, electricity and heating sectors must be achieved by 2045, which is reinforced by the Federal Climate Protection Act. In 2023, the German heating sector, the largest single sector, only obtained around 18.8 % of its 1,090 TWh from renewable sources. (1) Heterogeneous and decentralised heat sources will become more important as the share of fossil fuels is reduced …
Authors: Timm Wunderlich MBA, Dipl.-Wi.-Ing. Lukas Oppelt, Tom Ebel M. Sc., Fritz Raithel M. Sc., Dipl.-Wi.-Ing. Willi Krause, Dr.-Ing. Thomas Grab und Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tobias Fieback, Institut für Wärmetechnik und Thermodynamik, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg/Germany
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Underground Storage of Hydrogen in the Epe Cavern Field
Planned expansion of the above-ground plant of the L-gas storage facility of RWE Gas Storage West for hydrogen storage. Source: RWE Gas Storage West GmbH
ue to the strong volatility and seasonal dependency of power generation from renewable energies, it is essential to develop storage options with very high capacities in order to realise the energy transition. The aim is to store the energy that can be generated in times of plenty of wind and sun, but is not needed at those times, so that it can be used when demand is high and generation is low. Caverns that have been salted out or used for underground storage …
Authors: OBR’in Denise Strauch M. Sc., BD Christian Biermann M. Sc., Bezirksregierung Arnsberg, Abteilung Bergbau und Energie in NRW, Dortmund/Germany
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The Changing Face of Mining for Electricity
The mining industry remains indispensable as a supplier of raw materials to secure the supply of renewable energy and to drive forward the energy transition. Source: © peterschreiber.media, stock.adobe.com
n the past, mining was the backbone of the electricity supply. In the future, this is to be secured entirely by renewable energies. However, this also requires raw materials and thus mining. Therefore, mining must be secured to this extent. The Critical Raw Materials Act has defined important cornerstones for this, which should also be implemented in national mining law …
Author: Prof. Dr. jur. Walter Frenz, Maître en Droit Public, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen/Germany
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Just Structural Change for Coal- and CO2-Intensive Regions in the EU? The Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) Between Market-Based Adjustment Aid and Planned-Economy Control Mania
The EU ETS is an excellent instrument that enables emissions reductions to be achieved in line with targets and in a manner consistent with the market. Source: EU-Kommission
he coal phase-out, which is now being targeted in practically all EU member states, has been accompanied at the European level since 2017 by the European Coal Regions in Transition Initiative. Since 2020, this has been embedded in the Just Transition Initiative, which has been expanded to include regions with CO
2-intensive industries, with the establishment of the so-called Just Transition Mechanism. As part of this “mechanism”, these initiatives will not only receive considerable funding from the EU budget, initially until 2027 with a follow-up perspective for the period after that – the new EU Commission will set the guidelines for this …
Author: Prof. Dr. rer. oec. Kai van de Loo, Forschungszentrum Nachbergbau (FZN), Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola (THGA), Bochum/Germany
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