The direct use of geothermal heat is in Europe already widely competitive due 
to the high oil and gas prices. Geothermal electricity production however faces 
in most countries huge financial challenges as far as low enthalpy fields are 
exploited.

Besides the use of high enthalpy fields - whose use has partly a long tradition - 
low enthalpy resources have the larger and area-wider potential but are 
comparatively only scarcely exploited so far. Apart from technical challenges 
which power production from geothermal low enthalpy fields are facing, also 
economic barriers hinder the wider use of geothermal energy within Europe. 

Therefore the power production costs of geothermal low enthalpy fields will be 
analysed in case studies in order to identify the crucial cost factors and to point 
out which measures could result in a widely economic feasible geothermal 
power production in Europe.

Telegrafenberg
14473 Potsdam