Secure capacity now and tap into the full potential of geothermal energy
We support companies, industry, countries, cities and municipalities as a general contractor on their journey towards using geothermal energy as a renewable energy source. Our experts are always at your side – from project planning, including applying for subsidies to finance the individual project steps, to site exploration and drilling, right through to plant construction.
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From project planning and site exploration to drilling and commissioning of the plant - as a general contractor, DMT provides all services relating to deep geothermal energy from a single source. Benefit from our expertise, hands-on mentality and solution-orientation during all project phases. Geothermal projects for the development and utilisation of geothermal energy have been part of DMT's service portfolio for over 25 years. Along the entire process chain, you can rely on our solutions when searching for locations and applying for funding (e.g. BEW funding), minimising drilling risks, increasing safety and boosting the productivity and profitability of your geothermal project.
DMT offers you comprehensive support for the successful launch of your deep geothermal project. Together, we determine the basic principles and regulations when selecting a suitable site and evaluate all technical possibilities and market conditions. On this basis, we develop a benefit and risk structure for you, including a detailed profitability calculation. All this data is incorporated into a comprehensive project structure plan, which sets out the subsequent phases of your geothermal project. We also organise the early involvement of the public to ensure a transparent flow of information. In this way, we ensure that your geothermal project is optimised in terms of costs, technical implementation and social acceptance.
In addition, we support you in obtaining all the necessary permits and authorisations as well as the environmental impact assessment and in applying for subsidies to finance your geothermal project, such as the federal subsidy for efficient heating networks (BEW subsidy).
As a leading company in subsurface exploration and deep geothermal utilisation, comprehensive site analyses are part of our standard services. From the planning and execution of 2D and 3D seismic measurements, their evaluation and subsurface modelling to simulation and drill path planning, DMT is at your side.
If this comprehensive geophysical exploration by our experts shows that a site is suitable for deep geothermal energy and that drilling can be carried out with a high probability of success, DMT will be happy to take over the realisation. Defining and constructing the drilling site and planning the drilling path are necessary preparatory steps for complex deep drilling. Planning, drilling and monitoring of the borehole as well as borehole measurements and seismological monitoring are part of our range of services.
After the successful site exploration, we support you in the final steps towards your geothermal heating plant. DMT draws up operating plans, undertakes the building and plant planning as well as the subsequent plant engineering. Thanks to our expertise, your geothermal plant will be connected to the grid on schedule so that the first sustainably produced kilowatt hours can flow after commissioning.
Rely on DMT as an experienced partner for the planning and realisation of your deep geothermal energy project. Contact us today to find out more about our services and to secure the relevant capacities, particularly for seismic site exploration.
Clean and sustainable - this is the energy supply of the future. The need to use climate-friendly, renewable energy brings the huge potential of the almost inexhaustible geothermal energy into focus: at depths of around 3,000 metres, the thermal waters are so hot that they make the use of heat pumps superfluous. This means that no additional electricity needs to be consumed to generate heat.
Deep geothermal energy can supply more than 25 % of the heat energy required in Germany, making an important contribution to achieving the heat transition and meeting climate targets. Moving away from energy generation based on fossil fuels is only possible through the expansion of renewable energies such as deep geothermal energy.
Geothermal energy can be utilised from different depths to generate thermal energy. Deep geothermal energy extracts hot thermal water from depths of around 400 to 6,000 metres. Roughly speaking, the temperature rises by around 3 degrees Celsius for every 100 metres of drilling depth.
The hot water is pumped to the surface via a borehole, where it is used to generate heat in a heating plant and then returned to the ground via the injection borehole, where it is reheated. A perfect cycle, also known as a geothermal doublet.
Near-surface geothermal energy works with other technology on a smaller scale and at a maximum depth of a few hundred metres.
The potential of deep geothermal energy is enormous: it can provide at least 25% of the thermal energy required in Germany. Possibly significantly more, as around 60% of the area in Germany - and most of the large urban centres - has not yet been investigated for its potential. An important alternative to fossil fuels and a green way to decarbonise heating networks and achieve climate targets.
Heating plants generate heat, power plants generate electricity. Under certain conditions, deep geothermal energy can also provide both - if the flow rate (the amount of water extracted per second) and the temperature of the extracted water are sufficiently high. This is rare in Germany, but quite possible in some places.
In addition to the geological conditions, sufficient data on the nature of the subsoil must be available. This can be reliably determined by site exploration using 3D seismics. In addition, the authorisation procedures must be simplified and shortened (around 40 different authorisations are currently required to realise a deep geothermal project). Finally, the risk of non-detectable wells should be cushioned for investors, which is why we are calling for a state discovery risk insurance scheme. And with the industrialisation of processes, the final hurdle can be overcome in order to shorten the overall process to completion of a geothermal plant from around eight to nine years to three to five years.
The costs of extracting geothermal energy from deep underground are only high during the investment phase. Geothermal heating plants are low-maintenance compared to other renewable energy systems. They are also independent of the time of day and weather - geothermal energy is always available.
Drilling is the biggest cost factor, but deep geothermal plants pay for themselves very quickly during operation - this is particularly interesting for municipal heating networks and energy suppliers.
Around 40 authorisations and applications have to be obtained in the course of a deep geothermal project. At the same time, in-depth knowledge of the process steps from project planning, site exploration and drilling to plant construction is required.
A general contractor takes all this work off the customer's hands and offers the entire process chain from a single source. Starting with potential analysis, public participation and subsidy applications, through exploration using 3D seismics, well site planning, construction and drilling, to the construction of the finished geothermal heating plant - including project management and all coordination with all trades and service providers.
The economic advantages and price stability of deep geothermal energy, which far outweigh fossil fuels, make geothermal energy attractive not only for municipal heating networks. Surrounding residential areas can also be quickly and cost-effectively converted to a sustainable heat supply - this fulfils both economic and climate-friendly goals.
In addition, heat can be supplied to larger agricultural businesses to efficiently heat stables or greenhouses. The timber industry also benefits from the lower costs of deep geothermal energy and the faster drying of its products.
Would you like to know what the utilisation of geothermal energy can do for your company or municipality?
According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection and its key issues paper half of heat energy is to be generated in a climate-neutral way by 2030. Politicians are committed to creating the conditions for the expansion of geothermal energy and accelerating the relevant procedures. Comprehensive funding programmes such as the federal funding for efficient heating networks (BEW) are important steps on the way to a climate-neutral future in which heat is generated using geothermal energy. It would also be sensible and desirable to have a statutory risk cushion, e.g. in the form of state exploration insurance, to provide financial security for geothermal projects in cities and municipalities.
The political will expressed in this way makes deep geothermal energy one of the most important building blocks for improving the competitiveness of municipalities and companies in the long term and leading Germany as an industrial location into a secure, climate-friendly future.
Various subsidy programmes provide an incentive to invest in renewable energies. Of course, this also applies to deep geothermal projects, which benefit from this funding support. For example, the federal funding for efficient heating networks (BEW), which came into force on 15 September 2022 and promotes the construction of new heating networks or the decarbonisation of existing district heating networks. However, regional subsidies, such as the progres.nrw programme, also provide funds to promote geothermal energy.
The funding is also available in the early stages of projects, i.e. not just when drilling is being carried out.
Funding is available for
The amount of funding often varies and can be up to 50% of the eligible expenditure for some project phases.
DMT's experts will help you find the right funding programme for your deep geothermal project, compile all the application documents and submit the application to the relevant funding agency.
Contact us now and benefit from our expert advice and experience in managing funding programmes.
The technological potential of geothermal energy is far from exhausted. Various deep geothermal technologies are currently being used in Germany, e.g. classic deep boreholes that utilise the deep rock and the water circulating in it to generate heat and/or electricity in the form of doublets or triplets. In addition, deep geothermal probes are used for direct heat generation as well as various combinations of both methods. The utilisation of old mining pits or mine water for geothermal applications is also being investigated.
To summarise: there is still a lot of untapped potential that can be further researched and exploited in order to further promote geothermal energy as a sustainable source of heat.
DMT stands for expertise and high-quality services - also in the field of geothermal energy. With over 100 years of experience in the exploration of raw materials, we support our customers in the search for and evaluation of geothermal deposits and utilise all technical possibilities to fulfil individual customer requirements. Our aim is always to give our clients access to the latest and most efficient technologies in order to make projects more economical and safer.
Our interdisciplinary team has been internationally active in the field of deep geothermal energy for many years with its high level of technical expertise and state-of-the-art equipment. As a result, our customers can rely on a diverse range of services relating to deep geothermal energy.
In order to assess the fundamental suitability of a geothermal project, various issues must be carefully considered in advance. A well-founded basic assessment is followed by analyses of the existing situation, potential, benefits and risks as well as profitability analyses. Project planning and effective subsidy management are the key building blocks for laying a solid foundation for your geothermal project.
DMT provides support for all planning, geoscientific, drilling and construction services. This allows you to react flexibly to changing conditions, which require the ability to react quickly and adapt within the framework of budget and deadline agreements. The holistic cooperation of all parties involved ensures that synergies are fully utilised. Economic efficiency and safety are always at the centre of attention.
Construction project management
Planning law coordination
Drilling and construction supervision and site management
Detailed site exploration is the basis for further action and is one of our core business areas. Decisive economic advantages can be realised as early as the exploration stage. Precise planning, thorough exploration and interdisciplinary data evaluation and geological interpretation are the basis for successful projects in the geothermal sector.
Our core competences include the careful planning, implementation and monitoring of the subsequent drilling operations through to the final extraction of thermal water for the heating plant.
Seismic structural exploration, which has proven its worth in oil and gas exploration, among other things, in combination with state-of-the-art computer-aided evaluation, finds the best location, optimises drilling planning and thus makes your projects more successful and safer.
Processing is an important step in the processing of 2D/3D seismic data. DMT's experienced specialists will provide you with optimum solutions and meaningful results.
Many years of experience in the interpretation and modelling of geological and geophysical data characterise our interdisciplinary team. In combination with state-of-the-art software, reliable results are provided as a basis for decision-making for further project development - the basic requirement for every geothermal project.
In order to utilise a geothermal plant efficiently in the long term, detailed knowledge of the reservoir properties is essential. On the basis of geological modelling, various utilisation scenarios can be simulated to gain insights into heat exchange, cooling behaviour or flow properties.
A drilling site for injection and production wells requires precise technical planning. We are experienced in all detailed planning and take care of securing the necessary authorisations.
Drilling planning is crucial for the successful sinking of deep boreholes. This involves optimising the drilling paths, selecting a suitable drilling rig and dimensioning the casing. However, DMT can also professionally take on tasks such as drawing up time and cost plans, preparing the drilling tender and the drilling itself.
Safety is the top priority for every geothermal project. DMT offers a comprehensive range of seismological monitoring services, including measurement, evaluation and expert reports, under the three keywords of measurement, preservation of evidence and assessment.
Borehole measurements in geothermal wells are a challenge due to high temperatures and unique lithologies. In particular, geological fault and fissure systems in hydrothermal reservoir rocks play an important role in the planning and design of the systems in the heating plant. DMT has the necessary tools and expert know-how.
Measuring equipment and services at a glance:
To make a geothermal project a success, seamless process progress is essential. You can rely on our expertise, especially in the transition from exploration to drilling and then from extraction to heating plant technology.
DMT also provides technical expertise for plant engineering. DMT is your reliable partner right through to the commissioning of your deep geothermal heating plant.
Plant engineering services at a glance:
DMT has already supported around 60 clients in the field of geothermal energy in recent years. As a general contractor, we carry out projects for municipal utilities, energy companies and firms of all sizes and from a wide range of sectors and trades. We work regularly and confidentially with many players and companies that have been developing and promoting geothermal energy for a long time, such as RWE, E.ON or SWM (Stadtwerke München).
Here we present a few selected projects that demonstrate our expertise in different project phases and tasks, e.g. our seismic site investigations covering an area of almost 1,500 square kilometres in the Vienna region for OMV/Wien Energie and in the Upper Rhine Graben for GeoHardt. We have also analysed the potential for the geothermal use of mine water as well as projects for borehole measurements and seismological monitoring in Mol, Belgium, and much more. Please contact us if you would like to find out more.
We have been working with DMT for almost 10 years in the field of geothermal exploration. We value not only their unquestionable expertise, but also their often pragmatic and unbureaucratic support with interdisciplinary issues and their flexibility when it comes to time-critical requirements.
Dr Robert Straubinger
Managing Director Enex Power Germany GmbH
The cooperation with DMT now takes place in many areas and has proven itself many times over, as our competences complement each other very well, especially in the field of deep geothermal energy. DMT is a reliable partner for whom the solution for the end customer takes centre stage.
Dr R. Kahnt
Member of the Management Board and Head of Department, G.E.O.S. Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH
As a member of the world's second largest geothermal association, Bundesverband Geothermie e.V., we are involved in national and international networks such as the International Geothermal Association (IGA), the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) and the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE).
We are also represented in the GDMB Geothermal Energy Specialist Committee. The aim of this committee is to further develop this pioneering form of energy and make it accessible to a broad circle of interested experts from a wide range of disciplines. The meetings focus on the utilisation of warm water from former mines and deep geothermal energy. The meetings bring together project developers and operators, representatives from universities, authorities and engineering offices as well as service providers and suppliers.
Since 2017, DMT has also been a partner in Greentech.Ruhr, a network of innovative companies, research and educational institutions as well as various public institutions in the environmental industry. The Greentech.Ruhr project is an initiative of Business Metropole Ruhr GmbH with the aim of developing the Ruhr metropolis into a leading location for the environmental economy and presenting it worldwide.
We at DMT are thus committed to clean and sustainable solutions for the future!
The aim of the DGE-ROLLOUT project is to facilitate the introduction of low-carbon technologies, products, processes and services in sectors with high energy saving potential in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in NWE.
As part of this project, DMT provides exploration and engineering services for the utilisation of deep geothermal energy, is the first source of information for stakeholders and investors and ensures transparency of geothermal energy use in the public domain.
DMT activities are:
The European Union promotes "European territorial co-operation" through its structural and investment policies. The INTTEREG programme provides a framework for developing innovative project ideas and achieving concrete new results. It supports transnational co-operation between national, regional and local partners. Northwest Europe is one of the six programme areas.
Further information on INTERREG North West Europe
In addition to dedicated management and a clear allocation of roles and responsibilities, DMT's QHSE management also includes thorough evaluation and risk management. This minimises the operational risk of work errors and the risk of work-related accidents. In addition, our highly professional teams are constantly working in an environmentally conscious manner to reduce emissions, environmental pollution and damage.
Our QHSE management system is based on the highest international standards:
ISO 9001 - Quality Management
ISO 14001 - Environmental management
OHSAS 18001 - Occupational health and safety
Other industry-specific guidelines are also integrated:
OGP - International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, London, UK and Houston, USA
IAGC - International Association of Geophysical Contractors, Houston, USA
