Geothermal power plants
Aside from the direct use of geothermal heat, deep geothermal energy offers the options of heat supply and electricity production. Since the temperatures of the pumped fluids reach up to 180°C, to date Germany exclusively has power plants with secondary circuits, such as ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle), and Kalina cycle plants.
On the one hand, research must be conducted into the use of improved heat transfer systems as well as their components and media. On the other hand, cooling processes must be optimized to increase efficiency and profitability. Further materials research is also required due to the increased corrosion that occurs in the circuit of the extracted geothermal fluids.
