Lichtenberg senses geothermal energy: Vibro trucks explore the underground!

Lichtenberg senses geothermal energy: Vibro trucks explore the underground!

In the Berlin district of Lichtenberg, innovative vibro trucks are currently being used that measure the surface. These trucks are used in Lichtenberg and Marzahn-Hellersdorf to promote the development of geothermal energy from rock layers at a depth of up to 2000 meters. This is done as part of a comprehensive initiative of the Senate Department for Transport and the Environment, which has also organized an "information day" for interested residents.

In a parking lot in Lichtenberg, experts are available to provide information about the work. So far, however, the reactions of the residents are rather behavior. Despite an invitation to tens of thousands of Lichtenberg employees for the event, only a few appeared. The geophysics expert Christof Sick found in her investigations that deep water flows with temperatures of around 60 degrees in 2000 meters. Geologist Jens Zimmermann considers it possible that the underground will have up to five suitable layers of rock for the deep geothermal energy.

technical details and challenges

The vibro trucks work using sound waves that are sent to the ground to create a precise map of the rock layers. However, some challenges must be taken into account in the measurements: The bombing funnel from the Second World War can affect the accuracy of the results. The trucks are supposed to run two defined routes - from Wartenberg to Karlshorst and along the avenues of the cosmonauts. The vibrations are noticeable for the residents, but experts assure that they can only be felt near the trucks and are taking into account the standard DIN 4150-3

The background noise of the vibro trucks is new to many residents and could be perceived as annoying. It remains unclear whether the information about the geothermal potential will affect a wider base of interests of the population. So far, the feedback in the neighborhood has shown little interest.

geothermal energy as a sustainable energy source

The development of geothermal energy not only represents an important measure for energy generation, but is also an important step towards climate protection. In addition to geothermal energy, sustainable energy sources also include solar energy and wind power. In urban areas such as Bochum and Witten, research is carried out in depths of up to 2000 meters after the use of earth layers in order to provide heat for the supply of households and industries. The Fraunhofer IEG also relies on the technology of the Vibro trucks, which is based on the echolot principle and stimulates the surface for more precisely identification of heat storage through vibrations.

For more information on this topic, you can report the reports from Berliner Zeitung and WDR Read.