EIFER at GeoTHERM 2026

GeoTHERM is considered the world’s largest trade fair and congress for near-surface and deep geothermal energy and took place in Offenburg from February 26 to 27, 2026. The event is accompanied by two parallel scientific congresses presenting current developments, technologies, and practical examples.

EIFER was once again actively involved this year, with a presence at the booth of the State Research Center for Geothermal Energy (LFZG) and numerous discussions focused on improving the quality of near-surface geothermal systems. In addition, the results of the aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) project DemoSpeicher “Development and operation of an aquifer storage facility (ATES) in urban areas: opportunities and challenges” were presented and discussed in a dedicated talk.

The ATES has been in operation since July 2024 and has been investigated with regard to its thermal, hydraulic, geochemical, and biological behavior during both winter and summer operation. The well-attended presentation, delivered by Alexandra, was followed by a lively discussion on the feasibility of aquifers as storage technologies and their potential as individual solutions for heating and cooling in urban areas.