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Geothermal use of an Alpine aquifer—Davos pilot study

Geothermische Nutzung eines alpinen Aquifers – Pilot Studie Davos

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Abstract

Topographically induced Alpine regional groundwater flow systems below the unconsolidated valley fillings constitute a substantial unused geothermal resource. Within the framework of the INTERREG VB project GRETA (shallow geothermal energy in the Alpine region), we developed a method to quantify the groundwater flux of complex alpine aquifers. The basis of the study is a regional-scale hydraulic groundwater model, which is based on a 3D tectonic model of the Davos region in Switzerland. Based on data from a large pumping test, we were able to calibrate the hydraulic model and to calculate basics for various usage scenarios of energetic exploitation for the Arosa Dolomite aquifer. Favourable conditions for an energetic exploitation are related to large-scale topography differences between groundwater recharge and potential exfiltration areas in the valleys, thanks to the 3D geometry of the large-area tectonic nappe units with their root zone located within river valleys. In general, the proposed concept could be applied to manifold similar geological and hydrogeological settings of the Alpine belt.

Zusammenfassung

Regionale durch die Topografphie induzierte alpine Grundwassersysteme unterhalb von Lockergesteins-Talfüllungen stellen eine größtenteils ungenutzte geothermische Ressource dar. Im Rahmen des INTERREG VB-Projektes GRETA (shallow geothermal energy in the Alpine region) haben wir ein Konzept entwickelt, welches erlaubt, Bilanzen komplexer alpiner Aquifere zu quantifizieren. Mit Daten eines Großpumpversuches konnten wir das für die Region Davos aufgebaute Grundwassermodell kalibrieren und Grundlagen für verschiedene energetische Nutzungsszenarien für den Arosa-Dolomit-Aquifer berechnen. Aufgrund der 3D-Geometrie der großflächigen tektonischen Deckeneinheiten und deren Wurzelzone im Bereich der Flusstäler, sind die Voraussetzungen für großräumige Topographieunterschiede zwischen Grundwasseranreicherungs- und potenziellen Exfiltrationsgebieten in den Tälern gegeben. Grundsätzlich könnte das hier vorgeschlagene Konzept in verschiedenen Gebieten des Alpengürtels mit ähnlichen geologischen und hydrogeologischen Randbedingungen angewendet werden.

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Notes

  1. Urs Eichenberger, Institut Suisse de Spéléologie et de Karstologie (ISSKA), La Chaux-de-Fonds; Adrian Pfiffner, Institut für Geologie, Universität Bern; Marino Maggetti, Département des Géosciences, Université de Fribourg; Olivier Kempf, Swisstopo, Bern.

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Acknowledgements

This work was co-financed under the NRP (SECO) through the Regional Development Fund and was accompanied by the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE). We would like to thank Gian-Paul Calonder (Community of Davos) and Hans-Ruedi Aebli (ANU) for their support and cooperation. For the technical input, especially in the creation of the 3D geological model, we also sincerely thank Urs Eichenberger (ISSKA). All maps have been reproduced by permission of swisstopo (BA19058).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, Applied and Environmental Geology, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 32, 4056, Basel, Switzerland

    Stefan Scheidler, Birte Anders & Peter Huggenberger

  2. Kommunales Rechenzentrum Minden-Ravensberg/Lippe, Bismarckstraße 23, 32657, Lemgo, Germany

    Birte Anders

  3. GEOTEST AG, Bahnhofstrasse 8A, 7260, Davos Dorf, Switzerland

    Christian Regli & Stephan Bolay

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  1. Stefan Scheidler
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  2. Birte Anders
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  3. Christian Regli
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  4. Stephan Bolay
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  5. Peter Huggenberger
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Correspondence to Stefan Scheidler.

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Scheidler, S., Anders, B., Regli, C. et al. Geothermal use of an Alpine aquifer—Davos pilot study. Grundwasser - Zeitschrift der Fachsektion Hydrogeologie 24, 277–286 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00767-019-00433-y

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