The 5-MW Haute-Sorne geothermal power project is being executed by Geo-Energie Jura, a public limited company with shareholds Geo-Energie Suisse, EBL (Genossenschaft Elektra Baselland), EWB (Energie Wasser Bern) and EWZ (Elektrizitätswerk der Stadt Zürich). The project will supply clean power to around 6000 households. In addition, waste heat from the power plant can be supplied to a district heating network or utilized as industrial heat.
The project will be located in a 2-ha area in the industrial zone of Glovelier.
A seismic measurement campaign had just been completed at the study site to collect more data on the subsurface. Other geophysical measurements are also planned as part of the geothermal project, including passive measurements carried out by the University of Geneva and a 3D seismic reflection campaign.
Work on the preparation of the drill site started in October 2023. With now two cellars and two retention ponds, the site is practically ready for rig mobilization which is scheduled by the first week of May.
This has been a positive outcome for the Haute-Sorne geothermal project which has had to grapple with controversy and negative public opinion early on. To address these concerns, the canton of Jura enacted additional safety requirements for all stages of the projects. With these concerns taken into consideration, the project had once again been given the green light to proceed in mid-2022.
