The freely-available UK Geothermal Platform provides a map of geothermal energy potential for four key technologies, to enable users to view detailed geoscientific datasets.  

In the UK, there are estimated to be 55,210 installed ground source heat pumps (GHSP), with hundreds of larger scale GHSP projects up to multi-MW scale. That doesn’t include shallow, closed and open loop GHSP, which are proven, technically feasible technologies and widely geographically spread.

Fewer than 10 deep geothermal operating schemes currently exist, such as former operating schemes and exploration boreholes with production tests. Regional studies have been carried out to map where the most favourable conditions for potential developments are located. However, the report notes that there is little production and operational information available.

Due to the limited scale of the UK industry, information is also generally lacking on the deep geothermal energy that can be viably extracted over operational timescales of decades, from the many different geological formations across regions of the UK.

How to use the Platform

The report outlines existing data deposit workflows, the legislative framework and future opportunities to support sector growth in the energy transition. The summary layers are presented for four proven technologies in a digital format.  

• Vertical closed loop GSHP
• Open loop GSHP
• Deep geothermal (open loop, but sedimentary aquifer, hydrothermal)
• Deep geothermal or enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), and petro-thermal

A fifth summary layer summarises the geothermal technology options, together with levelised costs.  

The project was commissioned by DESNZ as part of Arup’s review of technical and cost assumptions for geothermal generation technologies.

Renewable geothermal and related underground thermal-energy storage technologies have the potential to decarbonise heating, cooling and energy storage across the UK as it moves towards net zero emissions. The potential of these technologies varies by location, depending on the subsurface geology and type of technology. Some areas of the UK currently have potential for geothermal power and heat, and innovations being demonstrated globally are likely to broaden those areas.

The Platform offers an interactive map interface. The focus is on larger scale heat output suitable for district, campus and communal heat networks or large commercial users, as opposed to single dwellings and other small individual users. The Platform summary layer methodology presents the main geothermal technologies, data handling, limitations and cost assessments for geothermal energy pre-feasibility planning.

Major seismic survey of geothermal potential in Munich

In mainland Europe, starting next year, Munich will see what is said to be the largest inner-city seismic campaign to date to investigate geothermal energy potential.

DMT, a member of the TÜV Nord Group, is to carry out seismic exploration of subsoil in the Bavarian capital, beginning in 1H2026. The survey is part of the GIGA-M research project funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), as a joint venture between the Technical University of Munich, Stadtwerke München, Energie-Wende-Garching and the Ebersberg-Munich Energy Agency, the district of Munich and the state capital of Munich.

The aim of the seismic campaign is to identify suitable hot water reservoirs beneath Munich, by examining geological structures over a large area. The data obtained will be used to identify specific locations for new geothermal plants, integrating existing plants and expanding the supply of renewable heat, for a ‘climate friendly and affordable heat supply’, says DMT, as a step towards the region achieving climate neutrality by 2045.

‘Munich, one of Germany’s largest municipal areas, is increasingly turning to geothermal energy,’ explains Dr Mark Tiedemann, CEO of DMT and CEO of TÜV Nord Group Business Unit Energy and Resources. ‘The planned Geothermal Energy Acceleration (GeoBG) Act will further strengthen the legal framework for geothermal energy. We expect demand to remain high, as many municipalities are looking for ways to achieve their climate targets within the framework of municipal heat planning.’

The greater Munich area, which is located in the pre-Alpine Molasse basin, is considered to be particularly well-suited for geothermal energy use. DMT has been exploring deep sub-surface for usable heat in the area since 2007. The new, large-scale seismic exploration campaign (measuring over 1,000 km²) is intended to create the data basis for significant expansion of geothermal capacity from about 400 MW currently to over 1 GW – enough to supply tens of thousands of additional households with ‘climate friendly’ heat.

A fleet of special seismic measurement vehicles (vibro trucks) will send light seismic pulses into the ground. These pulses are reflected by rock formations and are recorded by a network of geophones (receiver modules). The data is then used to create a detailed 3D model of the subsurface, to precisely target areas for the extraction of hot thermal water.

Previously, the largest contiguous urban area seismically surveyed in Germany for this purpose was Münster at the end of 2024. The new Munich survey will cover four times that area.

According to the German Geothermal Association, the technology could cover at least 25% of the country’s heat demand. This is increasingly being recognised at federal level, where the German government is providing over €1.5bn for expansion by 2030, under the new ‘Deep Geothermal Energy for Heating Networks’ programme for municipal projects. 

DMT vibro trucks provide data on the subsoil to a depth of several kilometres to create 3D models of the subsurface 
Photo: DMT/ TÜV Nord Group