Germany

Plans for geothermal power

Direct use

(Weber, et al., 2020)

German Geothermal Association (BVG) – The association aims to promote all types of geothermal technologies. Its members include companies and individuals like scientists.

GeoEnergy Celle e.V. – an association with the aim of supporting the development of technologies, standards, infrastructure and safety of energy resources, including geothermal.

Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) – BGR aims to promote sustainable use of natural resources, including deep geothermal, and protection of the human habitat by providing advice to ministries and the European Community and acting as partners in industry and science.

*The projects/programmes supported by other partners to promote geothermal development in Europe, including in Gemany can be found HERE.

Germany-International Geothermal Association(IGA) Collaboration Project - In 2021, IGA set up cooperation with the German project “Geothermal Heat Utilization for Industrial Processes in the SICA member countries”. The project is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It aims to promote geothermal direct use in central America.

Germany-Netherlands geothermal research cooperation initiative - In 2019, the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) and the Dutch Delft University of Technology signed a cooperation agreement to continue to work together on geothermal research.

Germany-Spain geothermal research project - In 2019, the German Freiberg University of Mining and Technology, the German Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the Spanish the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) reached an agreement to conduct research on super-hot geothermal systems in volcanic areas.

Germany-Turkey geothermal cooperation agreement - In 2018, the German Geothermal Association and the Turkish Geothermal Power Plant Investors Association (JESDER) signed a cooperation agreement to deepen knowledge and technology exchange in the geothermal field.

BGR Geothermal Programme for East Africa (2016–2020) - a programme by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) to support improved technical and institutional capacities, regulatory frameworks and technical information to enhance investment and development of geothermal resources.

Identification of Geothermal Resources in Central America (2016–2020) - a project by the German Federal Institute of Geoscience and Natural Resources (BGR) to advise the geothermal stakeholders in Central America on geothermal exploration and the interpretation, management and provision of geothermal data.

Promotion of Geothermal Development in Central America (2016–2020) - a project of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); the Central American Integration System (SICA) is the project’s lead implementing agency for promoting enabling frameworks for geothermal development, supporting technical and economic feasibility of geothermal projects through pilot projects, supporting capacity building, promoting regional dialogue and creating a network of geothermal experts to provide advisory services; part of the wider Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency (4E III) in Central America programme by GIZ.

Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility (GRMF) - an initiative to support geothermal development by providing grants for geothermal surface studies, exploration drilling and early-stage infrastructure development; established in 2012 by the AUC with support from BMZ and the EU–Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund through Entwicklungsbank (KfW), and later from DFID in 2014.

In Germany, there is no specific law regarding geothermal extraction. Instead, it is regulated by the general laws, especially the Federal Mining Act and the Federal Water Management Act. Regional mining authorities are in charge of issuing geothermal exploration and exploitation licenses.