Geothermal project in Thurgau, Switzerland gets favorable cantonal vote
Märwiler Riet in Thurgau, Switzerland (source: Roman Schurte / flickr, Creative Commons)
Carlo Cariaga
16 Aug 2023
The population of the canton of Thurgau, Switzerland has voted favorably for the TEnU 2030 project that aims to de-risk geothermal development in Thurgau.
In June 2023, the population of the canton of Thurgau in Switzerland voted to approve the Thurgau package of opportunities. Among the projects in this package is the Thurgau Energy Use from Underground 2030 (TEnU 2030) project by the Thurgau Geothermal Association (VGTG).
The TEnU 2030 project aims to provide the basis for the use of geothermal energy for either heat or electricity in Thurgau. This will be done by collecting better subsurface data, thus addressing the currently low level of knowledge on the geothermal potential in the canton. Through this project, the possibilities for geothermal development will be evaluated and the risks for future project developers can be reduced.
We had first reported on the TEnU 2030 project back in 2021, which by then was seeking federal funding. The VGTG estimates the cost of the project up to the deep drilling phase to be a total of CHF 74 million, of which the federal government could cover around 60 percent. Therefore, the VGTG puts the funds requested in the cantonal fund at around CHF 30 million.
The project is to be carried out in three phases:
- Prospecting (2022-2024)
- This phase aims to identify areas in Thurgau that are suitable for in-depth exploration or evaluation. This will involve the procurement, analysis, and reinterpretation of existing data and the definition of possible areas for geothermal energy use.
- Exploration (2025-2028)
- This phase aims to determine 1 to 3 promising sites for exploratory drilling. Sites will be identified by 3D seismic campaigns.
- Development (2029-2031)
- This phase aims to collect and provide the data needed for future project developers or investors to initiate a next project phase for further drilling. This will be done by drilling an exploration well and collecting and analyzing subsurface and well data.
The following phases (deep drilling and construction of geothermal plant) are beyond the scope of the TEnU 2030 project.
Source: Geothermie Schweiz and Verein Geothermie Thurgau
