Enex Power faces geothermal setback in Bavaria

Aug 14, 2013 - Enex Power Germany GmbH has suffered a setback to its geothermal project in Bavaria after it turned out that the drill hole produces only small amounts of hot water.

Robert Straubinger, head of Enex Power Germany GmbH, said on Tuesday that the hole yields only 10 litres (2.6 gallons) of hot water per second instead of the expected 120 litres per second.

The project, Europe's deepest, involves drilling down more than 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) to extract heat from a thermal spring.

The project, which defines the whole energy concept of the town of Geretsried, has already soaked up EUR 35 million (USD 46.3m) in investments. According to Straubinger, tests in July showed that the temperature of the water is 165 degrees Celsius, which is quite hot by geothermal standards.

Straubinger blamed the poor output on tightly packed rock, adding that it is not clear if this is an isolated case or conditions are generally that difficult at such a depth.

Enex will suspend drilling and evaluate the reasons for the low output over the coming weeks or months.

(EUR 1 = USD 1.324)

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