Introducing GeoHEAT: Georadar-aided High-resolution Exploration for Advancing geoThermal energy usage

Alexis Shakas; Linus Villiger; Edoardo Pezzulli; Matthew Schubert; Johan Friborg; Anton Nordenstam; Arnaud Mignan; Paul Lehmann; Dieter Werthmüller; Maren Breme; Michèle Marti; Stefan Wiemer; Geneviève Savard; Francisco Munoz-Burbano; Matteo Lupi; Christin Bobe; Florian Wellmann; Ezgi Satiroglu; Tabea Kautz; Kavan Khaledi; Francesco Grigoli; Claudia Finger; Erik Saenger; Evert Slob; Katrin Loer

arXiv · 2511.09095

Introducing GeoHEAT: Georadar-aided High-resolution Exploration for Advancing geoThermal energy usage

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Abstract

We present a novel geothermal exploration approach that integrates innovations at three spatial scale. At the regional scale (~100 km) we create LCOE heat maps using a techno-economic and metamodel analysis. This allows us to choose several potential sites to perform a reservoir scale (~10 km) assessment with passive seismics and gravity. By integrating the latter with probabilistic geological and geomechanical modeling we propose locations to drill exploration boreholes. Then follows a high-resolution borehole characterization incorporating various analyses, the central one being a georadar probe that allows to illuminate permeable structures. Within this project, we also design and build a geothermal grade georadar. Here, we present the approach and result from the application of our methodology to the Swiss canton of Thurgau, with the purpose of large-scale geothermal exploration.

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Alexis Shakas, Linus Villiger, Edoardo Pezzulli, Matthew Schubert, Johan Friborg, Anton Nordenstam, Arnaud Mignan, Paul Lehmann, Dieter Werthmüller, Maren Breme, Michèle Marti, Stefan Wiemer, Geneviève Savard, Francisco Munoz-Burbano, Matteo Lupi, Christin Bobe, Florian Wellmann, Ezgi Satiroglu, Tabea Kautz, Kavan Khaledi, Francesco Grigoli, Claudia Finger, Erik Saenger, Evert Slob, Katrin Loer. 2025-11-12. Introducing GeoHEAT: Georadar-aided High-resolution Exploration for Advancing geoThermal energy usage. https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.09095

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