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Geothermal in Neuenburg am Rhein - Future for Mankind and Nature
Aim of the project is the development of hydrothermal resources and their refinement in electrical and thermal energy
- aerial photograph of the drilling place in Neuenburg am Rhein (Source: Stoltenberg Energie GmbH)
The hydrogeothermal project in Neuenburg am Rhein is developed by the Stoltenberg Energie GmbH and stands thereby in tradition of the business philosophy: No gas, no oil, no CO2: use geothermal heating.
The level of development of the project was advanced in the past months as far as that the city Neuenburg am Rhein already ranks among one of the best developed geothermal sites in the Oberrheingraben. In contrast to the abundance of extraction permissions since the novella of the EEG which now rest mostly unconcerned in the drawers of the power suppliers and municipalities, Neuenburg am Rhein could use the ecological and economic advantages of hydrogeothermal power within 2 years:
- always available and inexhaustible and thus a substitute for electricity from nuclear power and coal
- pollution free heat supply for adjacent industrial companies and housing areas of Neuenburg am Rhein
- an independent and price-stable power supply
- creates a step to the implementation of the targets of the Kyoto Protocol
- minutes a prestige object for the region Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald
- active contribution to the climate protection by CO2-free power generation
- outstanding profitability
Constantly and durably: Energy from Neuenburg am Rhein
Geothermal energy, in Neuenburg am Rhein won by the exploration of hot thermal groundwaters, is one of few renewable resources which can be used permanent perfectly independent of exogenous influences. In contrast to the wind and solar energy it is basic load energy. This suggests that geothermal heat steps into competition to atomic energy and brown coal. E.g. experts estimate the potential of the energy generation from geothermal usage 600 times the german total value of current need for electricity. For this reason the geothermal power gets more favoured in the political discussion of future energy supply of the Bundesrepublik Deutschland, since under ecological and economic criteria in the coming years a high substitution need for atomic and for fossil won energy arises. The project Neuenburg am Rhein is thereby a environmental milestone and countrywide a prime example of lasting energy policy.
Heat and power from Neuenburg am Rhein
The hot deep ground wells in depths around 2800 meters under Neuenburg am Rhein will be explored by a doublet drilling. Hot water will be pumped up by one drilling, converted into strength and warmth and supplied by a further drilling again to the aquifer. This cycle ensures the regeneration of energy resources and a perfectly emission-free power production. The pollution free produced electricity will be legally sold for 15 cent per kilowatt hour to the Energiedienst AG in Rheinfelden and thereby provides a profitable basis for the next 20 years. This means as well a safe and ecological heat supply of Neuenburg am Rhein with constant energy prices for the following decades. The geothermal heat is suitable for bulk purchasers of the industrial areas of the "Rheingärten" and the "Rheinpark" as well as for private households of the town centre or the developing housing areas. The thermal energy is also applicable for the cooling of machines and buildings. Thus the ecological electricity and heat production also increases the lastingness of the secondary and tertiary sector of the economic situation of Neuenburg am Rhein.
Beyond the energy price spiral
The increase of the oil price in the last years of around several hundred percent has various consequences for the world economy. But also households are confronted with extending despair of the high energy prices. Not only the profit greed of the oil-producing nations is in debt. Also the continuously rising demand of emerging markets and the decreasing resources are the incentives of the international energy markets in the coming years. Hydrogeothermal energy represents a way out of the price spiral. In this scenario the customers could be supplied with heat via a long-distance heating network. In contrast to gas or oil the costs for heating would be constant and due to low production costs already competitive. Independence from the oil price increases the purchasing power of the private sector and the competitiveness of the producing sector. This location advantage is a weighty decision criterion for the settlement of new enterprises and private households.
A carbon dioxide-free future
The concentration of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide in the atmosphere achieved the highest level of the past 650.000 years. This is a result of the analysis of an ice core from the Antarctic as reported by an international researcher team in the journal "Science" (Vol. 310, Page 1313). The elevating concentration of carbon dioxide is today already 27 percent over the highest levels during the past 650.000 years. This alarming tendency can only be avoided if emitting processes are optimized or radically changed. Geothermal current and heat production represents a radical change by working perfectly carbon-free. The geothermally replaced portion of nuclear power and brown coal energy is a decrease of the carbon dioxide emissions to same extent. The installation of a hydrogeothermal power plant is thus an important contribution to the climatic protection and to the safety of our childrens environment.
Wet gold: Highest profitability beneath Neuenburg am Rhein
- pouring subjected net present value (Source: Stoltenberg Energie GmbH)
“The amendment of the EEG engages the power authorities to collect the geothermal current for 15 cent per kilowatt-hour for the duration of the next twenty years". This remuneration is motivation for a good dozen presently planned geothermal power plants in Germany. The revenues from current is due to the EEG "cash cow" of the Neuenburg project. The net present value of the Neuenburg project amounts to a pouring - the temperature will nearly safely said achieve a level of approximately 130 °C - of 60 liter/second more than 5 million Euro and to 120 liter/second more than 30 million Euro. The outstanding chances of success of the hydrogeothermal power plant in the "Rheingärten" in Neuenburg am Rhein await their realization. The Stoltenberg Energie GmbH is curious on edge about it.
