The Canton of Aargau in Switzerland has published an online map showing the suitability of different application models of geothermal energy. The map establishes a strategic foundation for investments and project developments, thereby promoting the targeted use of geothermal energy in the canton.
Click here to access the Suitability Map for Geothermal Energy.
Geothermal energy – especially for shallow heat extraction using ground source heat pumps – already makes a significant contribution to a sustainable and secure energy supply and to decarbonization (target: net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050). With the knowledge that the Canton of Aargau has favorable conditions for geothermal energy, the Cantonal Government accepted a motion from the Grand Council in March 2022 calling for the creation of a geothermal register to identify the geothermal potential in the municipalities of Aargau.
Subsequently, the Energy Division of the Department of Construction, Transport and Environment, in collaboration with internal and external experts, conducted a more detailed investigation into the geothermal potential in the canton. The Play Fairway Analysis (PFA) methodology was applied, which combines the economic sales potential at the surface (demand) through existing infrastructure – such as electricity and district heating networks – with the geological conditions underground (supply).
The results from this analysis are presented in the online suitability map.
Interesting sites for development identified
Previous studies on the geothermal potential in the Canton of Aargau have focused on the Muschelkalk aquifer as the target subsurface layer, specifically on water-bearing carbonate rocks of the Schinznach Formation (Upper Muschelkalk).
The investigations have identified attractive potential geothermal sites around the larger towns south of the Jura Mountains. Project sites along the Limmat and Aare rivers, with their chosen Muschelkalk (shell limestone) target layer, are likely suitable exclusively for heat extraction, but would also require shallower and therefore less expensive drilling. In the far south of the canton, temperatures are within a range that could permit electricity production deep within the Muschelkalk. However, this necessitates deeper and therefore more expensive drilling.
This potential assessment provides an initial basis for understanding the structural properties of the subsurface at the depth of the Muschelkalk formation and the existing infrastructure. The register creates a methodological foundation for identifying areas within the canton with increased potential for geothermal energy extraction and utilization, based on the models used.
Source: Canton of Aargau
