Green milestone for Denmark: Geothermal drilling has started in Aarhus
Press release • November 20, 2023
Standing 31 meters tall, this rig is set to drill 2.5 km into the earth to extract hot water. Today marks the start of the drilling work for the EU’s largest geothermal district heating plant, being constructed by Kredsløb and Innargi in Aarhus. Over the next few months, the rig will drill the first well to provide green district heating to Aarhus residents. The board chairman of Kredsløb, Finance Minister Nicolai Wammen, Mayor Jacob Bundsgaard, and Denmark’s Nature Conservation Association unanimously acknowledged this as a key milestone for Denmark’s green transition during the event at Aarhus Harbour.
It’s a spectacular sight greeting visitors at Aarhus Harbour in the coming months. A robust 6000-horsepower drilling rig has been set up to penetrate 2.5 km into the ground. And this is good news for the green transition in Denmark.
This drilling is part of setting up the EU’s largest geothermal district heating system, comprising seven sub-plants around Aarhus. Heat delivery is scheduled to begin in 2025. Upon completion of all sub-plants, the system is projected to provide 20% of Aarhus’s district heating.
“Today is a significant day for Aarhus and Denmark’s green transition as we move from planning to action, initiating drilling to provide Aarhus’s first geothermal district heating by 2025. When the facility is completed, it will be a key element in securing the stable and green supply of the future and a significant contribution to the city achieving its climate goals in 2030.”
“It is fair to say that a piece of green Danish national history is written in Aarhus today. The Parliament agreed on the regulatory framework needed, and now we are putting the drilling rig to work. If we want to succeed with the green transition, we must make use of all available solutions. Geothermal is truly exciting in this regard. Today is a good day, and I look forward to following the project going forward.”
“Aarhus aims to be CO2-neutral by 2030, and the provision of heat to its citizens and businesses plays a significant role in this endeavor. It’s fantastic that we’re now taking the initial tangible step in this ambitious green project.”
“If we are to reach our green ambitions, we must work with projects that really matters. Geothermal energy is a prerequisite for us to reach the goal of phasing out wood pellets by 2030 and thus become even greener in Aarhus. This is a significant milestone for us as a city. I also hope this project inspires other cities, demonstrating viable paths toward greener heating solutions.”
”We have wholeheartedly supported the establishment of geothermal energy from the outset. We’re not just introducing a new, large-scale renewable energy source. We are also developing a very real alternative to burning biomass, which neither emits CO2 nor affects biodiversity.”
“Geothermal has enormous potential in both Denmark and Europe, because it is an important part of the answer to how Denmark and Europe succeed in getting rid of Russian gas, phasing out coal and ensuring a green conversion of the heat supply at the same time. The start of drilling in Aarhus marks for us an important milestone on the way to realizing the potential of geothermal energy in Denmark and in Europe.”
Facts about the drilling work and the facility in Aarhus
- The drilling rig was delivered in smaller parts on lorries and assembled on-site.
- The drilling rig, which is electrically powered, stands approximately 31 meters tall and boasts 6000 horsepower.
- Aarhus’s geothermal heating plant will become the largest in the EU, with a total capacity of 110 MW.
- The first heat will be delivered in 2025 and all seven sub-plants will be completed in 2030
- Geothermal energy is projected to fulfill 20% of the district heating requirements in Aarhus.
- In Aarhus, geothermal energy is expected to reduce annual CO2 emissions by approximately 165,000 tonnes (a reduction in immediate biogenic emissions and a further reduction from the alternative use of biomass).
- The initial drilling efforts aim to verify the underground’s potential to meet the criteria for establishing geothermal district heating.
For further information, please contact:
Anders Rasmussen, Press Officer at Kredsløb, (+45) 2557 7809 /[email protected]
Louise Blaabjerg Christoffersen, Communications Lead at Innargi, (+45) 6025 8639 / [email protected]
