Description

Geoven  was a geothermal power plant project initially managed by Fonroche Géothermie, later taken over by Arverne. Located at the Ecoparc Rhénan site in Vendenheim, north of Strasbourg, the project aimed to generate 6 MW of electrical energy and 40 MW of thermal energy. It relied on two deep wells to extract hot water and reinject it at depths exceeding 4,000 meters.

The two wells VDH-GT1 and VDH-GT2 had been drilled and some tests had been conducted (5 injectivity and productivity cycles between 02/2018 and 11/2019).

A first interruption occured after a first period of seismicity (11/2019 – 01/2020, MLv=3.0 max) at Strasbourg and Vendenheim, to allow a third-party scientific expertise. During this period, the well was deepened of 450m to reach 5000m.

New tests were authorized starting 10/2020, but were stopped on 28/10/2020 after a new period of seismicity with quake reaching 3.6MLv (04/12/2020). Authority decided on 07/12/2020 to definitely stop the project.
Another earthquake of 3.9 ML occured on 26/06/2021.
Authorities set up a committee of experts that delivered a first report.