As Europe's largest geothermal trade fair and conference, GeoTHERM offers space for intensive exchange and current discussions. The event skilfully combines near-surface and deep geothermal energy. Over 240 exhibitors have registered. The national and international network of geothermal energy presents a comprehensive reflection of the industry once a year at the Offenburg trade fair location.
Distinguished by the interplay between European ambience and regional grounding, Messe Offenburg-Ortenau offers a wide range of options and a uniquely inviting atmosphere. The economically strong, trinational Upper Rhine metropolitan region, consisting of Germany's southwest, northwestern Switzerland and French Alsace, combines a lifestyle between the Black Forest and the vines in Offenburg.
Scotland is a partner country for GeoTHERM 2024, so Scottish exhibitors will present themselves together in one area. The GeoTHERM will be opened by Steve Taylor from Scottish Renewable Energy Advisor – Germany, Scottish Development International - Energy Transition, State Secretary Dr. Andre Baumann, Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Energy Sector of Baden-Württemberg and a greeting from Marco Steffens, the mayor of the city of Offenburg.
Current topics and questions in near-surface and deep geothermal energy will be discussed in around 50 specialist lectures. In addition, side events taking place in parallel, such as the 13th German Geologists' Day or the International Symposium on Underground Thermal Energy Storage (UTES), which take place the day before GeoTHERM, offer trade visitors the opportunity to exchange ideas intensively about current activities, findings and projects.
Citizens' event on geothermal energy
Research on geothermal energy in Baden-Württemberg has been coordinated by the State Geothermal Research Center (LfZG) since 2009. The LFZG is an independent institution of the state of Baden-Württemberg with the aim of promoting interdisciplinary research, teaching, training and technology development on geothermal energy in Baden-Württemberg and making it transparent. The LFZG is the association of the country's active scientific institutions that work on geothermal energy topics. The tasks of the LFZG focus on research, teaching and innovation in geothermal energy.
At the GeoTHERM citizens' event on February 29th at 1:30 p.m., interested citizens will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with the LFZG researchers about the potential of geothermal energy in today's energy mix, information about the diverse areas of application of geothermal energy or the technical implementation of near-surface and deep energy to obtain geothermal energy. Afterwards, a guided tour of the trade fair will be offered.
Program
On the first day of GeoTHERM attendees have the opportunity to take part in the practical forum of the German Heat Pump Association or the international workshop “She drives Energy”.
Also on the first day of the congress, the development and validation of a new, innovative vibrator for use in reflection seismics will be discussed in the field of deep geothermal energy. Graduate Engineer Volker Gliniorz-Mädel and Daniel Jaskulski from Herrenknecht AG will present this. An insight into lithium production and its connection to geothermal energy production is also provided. Dr. Horst Kreuter from Vulcan Energie Resources GmbH will show how the generation of renewable energy can work hand in hand with sustainable raw material production.
On the second day, Prof. Dr. Ingo Sass will show findings from a one-year test operation of a geothermal response test on a medium-deep geothermal probe storage facility. Geothermal energy is closely linked to the heat transition, says Dr. David Kuntz from GeoAlto GmbH
The results of the HeatSHIFT project will also be presented. Roland Koenigsdorff from Biberach University created a model for seasonal geothermal probe storage and integration into a power plant simulation environment.
