Researchers investigate the effects of geothermal probes on the subsurface
Published: Thursday, Jun 13th 2024, 08:50
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Swiss researchers are investigating the effect of borehole heat exchangers on the soil and groundwater. To this end, 144 geothermal probes were drilled up to 100 meters into the ground in Dübendorf ZH, as reported by the aquatic research institute Eawag on Thursday.
According to Eawag, Switzerland has the highest density of geothermal probes per unit area in the whole of Europe. So far, however, little is known about the reactions of the subsurface to these probes.
The geothermal probes installed on the site of Eawag and the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology Empa draw heat from the depths of the ground to the surface in winter and return the heat from the summer months to the ground so that it is available in the colder months of the year.
This regular heating and cooling of the probes at a depth of up to 100 meters could influence the chemical components in the groundwater as well as the microbial communities in the soil and water. The research project, supported by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy and the cantons of Zurich, Aargau, Thurgau, Zug and Geneva, now aims to show the extent to which this is happening.
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