At a quiet research site north of Berlin, something remarkable is about to happen. Beneath the forests of Groß Schönebeck, where scientists have explored the Earth’s heat for decades, Green Therma and Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung (GFZ Potsdam) are preparing to test a technology that could reshape how the world accesses one of its most powerful — yet underused — renewable energy sources: deep geothermal heat.
In 2026, the site will host the world’s first installation of Green Therma’s vacuumized pipe completion (DualVac™), a new kind of deep geothermal well design engineered to transport heat from more than three kilometers below the surface with minimal heat loss. For the first time, a DualVac™ completion with a continuous vacuum insulation — used in cutting-edge industrial applications — will be applied inside a single-well co-axial geothermal system. If it performs as expected, it could dramatically increase the efficiency of deep geothermal operations and unlock renewable heat resources in locations previously considered too challenging or costly.
A New Chapter in Geothermal Innovation
For Green Therma, this moment has been years in the making. The company’s patented Heat4Ever™ solution, with DualVac™ at its core, was developed around a simple idea: deep geothermal heat exists everywhere — we just need better tools to extract it efficiently. Now, the collaboration with GFZ Potsdam — Germany’s renowned national research center for the Earth sciences — brings that idea to life under real geothermal conditions.
“This project represents a milestone in geothermal energy extraction technology,” says Jørgen Peter Rasmussen, Founder and CEO at Green Therma. “By demonstrating DualVac™ insulation performance at Groß Schönebeck, we are taking a major step toward making deep geothermal heat accessible, efficient, and scalable on a global level.”
The installation will reach depths of over three kilometers, where temperatures are above 100 degrees. Over the course of a year-long test, the system will be measured, monitored, and challenged — generating data that could accelerate the deployment of deep geothermal as a local, reliable, and carbon-neutral heat source.
Where Science and Industry Meet
For GFZ Potsdam, the project is another example of how research infrastructure can drive real-world progress in energy transition.
“Close cooperation between industry and research is essential for developing next-generation geothermal solutions,” says Prof. Dr. Ingo Sass, Head of the Geoenergy Section at GFZ Potsdam. “Partnerships like this is crucial for moving geothermal energy forward,” says Sass.
The collaboration is part of the European TRANSGEO initiative, which brings together partners from five countries to explore how existing wells across the continent can be repurposed for geothermal heat extraction and storage.
“Groß Schönebeck is one of the places where Europe tests what tomorrow’s geothermal systems could look like,” adds Prof. Dr. Hannes Hofmann, TRANSGEO Coordinator. “The knowledge generated here could help expand geothermal energy in regions that need scalable, clean heat.”
A Step Toward a Carbon-Neutral Heating Future
Across Europe and beyond, heating remains one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonize. Many regions lack sufficient wind or solar potential in winter, and infrastructure changes can take decades. Deep geothermal heat offers something different: stable, always-on, weather-independent renewable energy — available day and night, throughout all seasons.
If the DualVac™ system proves successful, it could meaningfully lower the barriers to deploying deep geothermal solutions in cities, industrial regions, and cold climates. It represents not just a technological milestone, but a new strategic option for countries seeking secure, fossil-free heating. With this demonstration, Green Therma and GFZ Potsdam are taking a bold step toward a future where the heat beneath our feet becomes a scalable solution for the world’s growing energy needs.
Project Overview
· Project Name: Heat4Ever™ Test Project
· Technology: DualVac™ vacuumized pipe completion (co-axial geothermal system)
· Depth: ~3.2 km
· Location: Groß Schönebeck, Germany
· Timeline: Full operation expected in first half of 2026
· Partners: GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences and Green Therma ApS
About Green Therma
Green Therma develops innovative geothermal technologies that unlock deep heat resources with high efficiency and minimal environmental impact. Its patented Heat4Ever™ and DualVac™ systems enable scalable, carbon-neutral heating solutions for the global energy market.
About GFZ Potsdam
The GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences is Germany’s national research centre for the earth sciences, pioneering advances in geothermal research, energy transition, and sustainable resource management. TRANSGEO project is coordinated by GFZ and co-funded by Interreg Central Europe through the European Regional Development Fund (www.interreg-central.eu/projects/transgeo).
For further information, please contact:
Kim Gunn Maver, Chief Geologist
kgm@greentherma.com
Pernille F. Schiander, Head of Marketing & Communications
pfs@greentherma.com
