Overview
- Energie und Wasser Potsdam (EWP) has started drilling at Heizkraftwerk Potsdam Süd for a second deep geothermal project and will run operations around the clock during an initial phase.
- Brandenburg’s economics minister Martina Klement attended the start and called the project a potential model for other towns while warning that subsurface conditions are uncertain and costs are often high.
- The first drilling phase is designed to deliver geological data and measurements of geothermal and brine potential that will decide whether the scheme can move to full development.
- EWP already operates one deep geothermal plant in Potsdam and plans nearby river‑water heat pumps and combined heat‑and‑power units to expand local heat and power options.
- Nationwide context shows limited but existing deep geothermal use, with the Bundesverband Geothermie reporting 45 German plants with bore depths over 400 meters, and officials say the Potsdam pilot will help test scalability and cost feasibility.