Sedimentary basins like e.g. the North German and Polish Basin, the Pannonian basin, or the Upper Rhine Graben have a high geothermal potential, even though geothermal gradients are moderate. To reach geothermal reservoirs of sufficiently high temperatures for economic exploitation, deep drilling is necessary. There are many examples where aquifers are used successfully for the geothermal production of heat and also electricity. However, the exploitation of low permeable sedimentary layers is not advanced yet and needs further efforts in research and development. Of special interest are the role of fault zones as well as the role of crystalline rocks beneath sedimentary basins as potential geothermal reservoirs. It is necessary to optimize exploration, characterization and modeling of the Geothermal reservoir and possible fault zones prior to drilling and to better understand physical, hydraulical and chemical processes during operation.
We want to address Earth scientists from all geoscientific fields that deal with geophysical, geological and geochemical investigations regarding potential geothermal reservoirs in deep sedimentary basins or in crystalline rocks underneath, as well as scientists who investigate the role of fault zones in low permeable layers as potential geothermal reservoirs.