Research Projects

Ongoing projects

until 2029

• TEN.efzn - Geoenergy systems (10/2024 - 09/2029)
  I.“Funding Line Powerhouse efzn” – Research Platform for Geoenergy Systems, Innovation Areas II.1 and II.2 Geothermal Energy and Heat Storage, as well as III.3 and III.4 Management and Optimization, with the topic: GeoSolie: Regeneration of geothermal systems through seasonal solar thermal storage; Assessment of utilization potentials and seasonal heat demand for sustainable heat supply in Lower Saxony. (Funding agency: MWK - Volkswagen Foundation: Science and Technology in Research and Teaching)

until 2028

• CampusGeoHub (02/2025 - 01/2028)
  Integration of the “Geothermal Hub” concept into the heat supply system of a research campus. (Funding agency: BMWE)


• DEKAPALATIN-BERTHA (02/2024 - 01/2028)
  Collaborative Project: Decarbonization of heating networks for the provision of industrial process heat and municipal district heating at the pilot site of Wörth am Rhein through the use of deep geothermal energy.
  Phase I: Conceptualization, exploration, and development of deep geothermal energy within a real-world laboratory for the integrated heat transition.
  Subproject: Cross-scale thermo-hydraulic modeling, scientific logging, coring, and potential analysis. (Funding agency: BMWE)

until 2027

• STEP (08/2024 - 07/2027)
  Spatio-Temporal structural Evolution of the Western Himalayan Orogen in Pakistan. (Funding agency: DFG)


• WärmeGut (08/2024 - 05/2027)
  Supporting the rollout of geothermal heat pumps for the heat transition through the nationwide, standardized provision of geoinformation on shallow geothermal energy in Germany.
  Subproject A: Overall conceptual design, coordination and cooperation with the State Geological Surveys (SGDs), IT-related further development and implementation, geothermics, and geological framework.. (Funding agency: BMWE)


• LEAP (02/2022 - 01/2027)
  Linking structural Evolution with Quaternary landscape evolution and deformation in the western Himalaya: structural segmentation and implications for seismogenesis in Pakistan. (Funding agency: DFG)

until 2026

• Projektbezogene Personenaustausch Frankreich PROCOPE (01/2025 - 12/2026)
  Understanding the thermal regine in the Upper Rheine Graben to reduce geothermal exploration risk. (Funding agency: DAAD)


• DemoCELL-Exploration (12/2024 - 11/2026)
  Geothermal site development in the Lower Saxony Basin: Exploration for the demonstration project in the Greater Celle area;
  Phase 1: Exploration and conceptual design of the development;
  Subproject B: Coring, scientific logging, VSP, characterization, and reservoir assessment (Rhaetian, Lower Cretaceous). (Funding agency: BMWE)

Completed projects

• DeCarbSN (10/2023 - 03/2025)
  Decarbonization of heat supply at the geothermal model site of Schwerin. (Funding agency: BMWK)


• ArtemIS (06.2021 - 12.2024)
  Upgrading of the Geothermal Information System GeotIS to an Internet Portal for the Heat transition in Germany. (Funding agency: BMWE)


• mesoTherm (04/2020 - 12/2024)
  Exploration and development of hydrothermal reservoirs for medium-depth geothermal energy – a contribution to the heat transition in Northern Germany. (Funding agency: BMWE)


• Neotectonic activity in Central and Southern Germany (01/2022 - 12/2024)
  Identification of post-Eocene faults (“active” faults according to the StandAG) in the Central Uplands region of Germany. Development of a method for the automatic extraction of fault displacements from digital geological maps. (Contract: BGE)


• Bayernwerk Natur GmbH (05/2024 - 10/2024)
  Statement on the current mining-related heat assessment report for the Poing geothermal project. (Funding agency: Bayernwerk Natur GmbH)


• POWTEX Neutronendiffraktometer am Forschungszentrum MLZ in Garching bei München (07/2007 - 12/2022)
  Development of complex sample environments for the in-situ investigation of deformation and recrystallization processes using time-resolved texture analyses of geomaterials. Application of these sample environments at the POWTEX neutron diffractometer at the MLZ Research Center in Garching near Munich. (Funding agency: BMBF)


• MEET (05/2018 - 10/2022)
  Multidisciplinary and multi-context demonstration of EGS (Enhanced Geothermal Systems) exploration and Exploitation Techniques and potentials. (Funding agency: European Commission - Horizon 2020)


• Gemeinde Rüdersdorf bei Berlin (12/2021 - 03/2022)
  Baseline assessment of the geothermal utilization potential within the municipality of Rüdersdorf. (Funding agency: Gemeinde Rüdersdorf)


• Gemeinde Höhenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn (10/2021 - 12/2021)
  Baseline assessment of the geothermal utilization potential east of the municipality of Höhenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn. (Funding agency: Gemeinde Höhenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn)


• Seismic regionalization for Germany and adjacent regions (07/2017 - 12/2021)
  Development of a new seismotectonic zonation based on geological principles as a foundation for hazard maps. (Contract: BGR)


• Energy G.E. Luxembourg (07/2017 - 12/2021)
  geolux: Quantification of Luxembourg’s geothermal potential and identification of resource-specific utilization types based on the Play Type concept. (Funding agency: My Enery G.I.E., Luxembourg)