Geothermie Garching – Sustainable Energy from the earth interior SINAMICS PERECT HARMONY GH180 20 kv medium voltage drive

Geothermie Garching – Sustainable Energy from the earth interior  

Power Utilities

Silenos Energy

Köln , Germany

Completion: ongoing

Garching on Alz

Garching, Germany

Customer Situation / Objectives

Siemens LDA has partnered with Silenos Energy for their deep Geothermal green electricity and heat plant at Garching on Alz, in Bavaria, Germany. Geothermal energy is a renewable and a local source of energy which is derived in the form of heat within the sub-surface of the earth. Water and/or steam assist in carrying geothermal energy to the Earth’s surface. This energy can be used for heating and cooling purposes or could further be harnessed to generate clean electricity.   

From the perspective of Sustainability and specifically environment protection, deep geothermal energy is slated to supply as much as 29% of the demand for heat in Germany and thus become a key technology to reach important climate goals. The technology employed in the Garching on Alz project is environment friendly. Hot water is pumped up from the delivery probe, the so-called injection probe then guides the cooled water back into the rock layer after the thermal energy has been released. At sufficiently high temperatures, the thermal energy can be transferred directly to the heating network circuit via heat exchangers with deep geothermal energy. The project supports the initiative that will allow a quarter of the heat consumption of buildings in the state of Bavaria, in Germany, to be supplied through geothermal energy until 2050. Siemens LDA supplied the frequency converters that drive the pumps.

Solution/Service Description

LDA has provided its SINAMICS PERFECT HARMONY GH180 20kV frequency converters that guarantee smooth and uninterrupted pumping of water. A closely coordinated cooperation between Siemens and Halliburton makes it possible that the core components of the geothermal system work as one unit and ensure the highest possible sustainability, reliability, availability and optimized life cycle costs. Siemens also adds further value by providing remote monitoring of the frequency converter operations and analysis of the 24-hour operational data through cloud-based systems. This adds further to the reduction of green house emissions by cutting down on travel costs related to maintenance and trouble shooting.   

Siemens Scope of Supply ·       

SINAMICS PERECT HARMONY GH180 20 kv medium voltage drive

Multi-cell-topology for maximum availability   

Special ESP features and adjustments to Halliburton’s OEM hardware

Customer Benefit

Special harmonized system of converter and ESP 

Optimal use of space (no additional transformers and cabling) 

All electrical process elements in one house 

Coordinated commissioning between drive and pump components 

High efficiency – adapted depending on the load and flexible operating points between 30 Hz and 60 Hz without an additional sinusoidal filter at the output

Location / Project Description

Geothermal energy is highly sustainable as it preserves the environment. In comparison, to wind farms and solar plants, the plants need minimal space, the energy is always available regardless of the time of the day, the weather conditions, and does not produce greenhouse emissions. Large amounts of thermal water in the Bavarian south-east Molasse basin, around Garching on Alz. have repeatedly been found. Garching is located between the Danube river and the Bavarian Alps and is a geologically favorable terrain for deep geothermal systems for green electricity and heat generation. So, the site was ideal for the project.   

Water at around 120 ° C -130 ° C is available in this area which is a part of the Bavarian south-east Molasse. This means that not only district heating but also electricity can be generated at this geothermal location. The hot water source is available at approx. 2,900 - 3,700 meters; a relatively shallow depth for deep geothermal drilling and is pumped up to the surface using Electrical Submersible pumps supplied by Halliburton. The electrical submersible pumps, pump superheated water at 125° Celsius at the rate of 120 liters/second.