In Litomerice, Czechia, scientists to start drilling shallow boreholes at barracks site this autumn

Scientists will begin drilling shallow boreholes at the former barracks site in Litomerice this autumn. Some will supply energy, while others will be used for monitoring. Experts are expected to start drilling two wells several kilometres deep towards the end of next year. The work is part of a geothermal project to harness energy from the Earth’s interior. Project manager Antonin Tym told the Czech News Agency (CTK). According to the regional authority, the project will not have a significant impact on the environment. The wells could supply water at temperatures of up to 100 degrees Celsius.

The project’s designers have revised their plan to harness heat from the Earth’s interior. Instead of three five-kilometre wells, there will be two shorter ones, along with additional shallow boreholes and other renewable energy sources. A notice published on the regional authority’s website states that the construction will not significantly affect the environment and therefore will not be subject to an environmental impact assessment under the relevant law.

According to Tym, the project is still expected to enter trial operation at the end of 2027. “We are now selecting suppliers for a range of technologies, and the project documentation is being finalised. Shallow boreholes will be drilled from autumn, and a tender for the deep-well work will be held during this period,” Tym said.

Experts drilled two exploratory boreholes this spring. “Based on them, we concluded that we would proceed in stages and adjust the total number of shallow boreholes to the situation,” Tym said. Some will supply energy, while others will monitor water flow, temperature, yield and direction.

The project’s designers have revised the original plan, reducing the number of deep wells from three to two. They will be three to four kilometres deep, rather than five. The system will be supplemented by shallow boreholes ranging from 100 metres to half a kilometre deep. Other renewable energy sources will also be added. The aim is to harness geothermal energy and use the rock mass for seasonal heat storage, in combination with solar systems and electrolytic hydrogen production.

The Ústí nad Labem Region has designated the SYNERGYS project—whose main objectives include harnessing geothermal energy, building underground heat storage facilities and producing so-called green hydrogen—as a strategic project under the Just Transition Programme. Costs are estimated at 1.25 billion crowns. Litomerice is the only city in the Czech Republic authorised to carry out a special intervention in the Earth’s crust.