Greener district heating for North Zealand: Underground now being mapped to determine potential for geothermal energy

Hot water can be found deep in the underground, and can be pumped up to the surface before being used to heat the water in the district heating network. The energy source is called geothermal energy and is as renewable as sun and wind energy – and it is also available day and night all year round, regardless of the weather.

Between the 4th and 17th of November Innargi will map the underground to determine where in North Zealand it is best to drill for geothermal water. This happens via so-called seismic surveys, which will be taken on a pre-determined route that stretches over nearly 82 kilometres. The results will help to map the underground in the municipalities of Allerød, Fredensborg, Furesø, Gentofte, Gladsaxe, Hørsholm, Lyngbæk-Taarbæk and Rudersdal.

This is how the surveying of the underground will work

The surveying of the subsurface in North Zealand starts in the evening of the 4th of November and is expected to be finished by the 17th of November. The surveys are carried out by two special trucks, which are driving along a carefully planned route while sending vibrations down into the underground along this route. The vibrations are recorded by so-called geophones, which are placed along the edge of the road. They are a kind of microphone about the size of a mobile phone.

People who live along the route will experience two special white trucks driving past their homes once in the period between 10 pm and 6 am. The surveying takes place at night to disturb traffic as little as possible, while the geophones are set up along the route during the day. There will be traffic control approximately 100 meters in front of and directly behind the trucks.

As a neighbour along the route, you will be able to hear the trucks driving by and possibly feel some vibrations from approximately 10 minutes before the trucks pass your home and up to 10 minutes after the trucks have passed. The vibrations last 20 seconds each. The vibrations are not dangerous for neither people nor buildings.

Geothermal energy can contribute on a large scale to the green transition in Denmark

Today, geothermal energy makes up less than one percent of Denmark’s district heating, but has the potential to cover up to 30 percent of Denmark’s district heating. This corresponds to the heat consumption of 600,000 households. In this way, geothermal energy is important for Denmark’s ambition to be climate neutral by 2045.

About the Surveying of the Underground

The surveying starts on the 4th of November on a carefully planned route, which covers nearly 82 kilometres and goes through eight municipalities. The surveying is expected to be finished at the latest by the 17th of November 2024.

If you live along the route, you will be able to hear the rumble of the trucks and feel some vibrations lasting 20 seconds. After approximately 10-20 minutes, the trucks will have passed your home.

The trucks drive primarily in the time period of 10pm – 6am to minimise the disruption of traffic.

Innargi is a geothermal energy company that finances, develops and operates geothermal plants. They get help from the engineering company GEO and the Polish subcontractor, Geofyzika Torun, to carry out the preliminary assessment in North Zealand. Innargi was founded in 2017 by A.P. Møller Holding and is today owned by A.P. Møller Holding, ATP, and NRGi.