The Landau Geothermal Power Plant
Landau in der Pfalz, Germany
The idea for the Landau Geothermal Power Plant grew out of the experiences made in the Soultz project and out of the insight, that after more than one decade of intensive research in Soultz, geoscientists should apply their joint knowledge to a commercial project. In all of the deep wells in Soultz, several faulting and fracture systems were observed in the layers above the EGS target horizon (sediment and crystalline rock). It was therefore safe to assume that similar open structures could also be expected in deeper depths and hotter environments in other locations in the Upper Rhine Graben.
 geo x / BESTEC |
Objective |
2.9 MW electrical power and 3 MW thermal output |
| Wells | 2 | |
| Vertical depth | 3,000 m | |
| Temperature | 160°C | |
| Flow rate | 70 bis 80 l/s | |
| Reservoir | EGS/hydrothermal | |
| Power Plant | ORC | |
| Construction | 2004 to 2007 | |
| Status | feed-in of up to 3.8 MWe | |
| Geothermie Landau online |
The Landau Geothermal Power Plant is the first commercial geothermal power plant with an electrical output in the megawatt range in Germany. The plant was officially commissioned on November 21st, 2007. For the first time, energy could be extracted from hot water reservoirs that are efficient and hot enough to produce a gross output of more than 3 MW. The integration of the injection well only became possible in Landau after new technologies for improving the well had been successfully applied.
The plant in Landau is being operated by geox GmbH, a joint venture of PFALZWERKE AG of Ludwigshafen and Energie Südwest AG of Landau. BESTEC was the general contractor in charge of all underground work, planning and the thermal circuit. Today, BESTEC is responsible for maintenance and support.