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Episode 44: How soil thermal and moisture data drive renewable energy in Germany

Episode 44: How soil thermal and moisture data drive renewable energy in Germany
 

Germany has committed to generating 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, as outlined in the Climate Action Act. However, the ideal locations for wind and solar farms are in the north, while the industrial centers that require power are in the south. To save space, protect cables from weather damage, and preserve aesthetics, Germany chooses to bury the cables wherever possible. So, how do you safely transport utility-scale energy 700 km underground? Varying types of soil and seasonal changes in soil moisture can impact the ability to safely do this without damaging cables or harming the ecosystem. In this episode, Kai-Julian Hendler and Christoph Verschaffel-Drefke discuss the geotechnical challenges of this ambitious project.

Notes

Kai-Julian Hendler is a geotechnical consulting engineer at Boley Geotechnik in Munich, Germany. He holds a master’s degree in Civil Engineering, with a specialization in geotechnical engineering from the University of Lisbon. Over the past 8 years working at Boley Geotechnik, he has been a site engineer on port construction projects in South Africa, Guinea, and Australia. In his current role, he focuses on the geotechnical challenges of infrastructure projects for railways, metros, and roads.

Christoph Verschaffel-Drefke is a Geotechnical Engineering and Hydrology Coordinator for Transnet BW, a transmission systems operator in Germany. After getting his degree in Geoscience Engineering, he worked on several research projects based around the heat dissipation of underground cables. During his 6 years working at TransnetBW, he has overseen projects relating to thermal soil investigation, thermal dimensioning, bedding materials of cables, and heat emissions.

Links to learn more about Kai-Julian Hendler and Christoph Verschaffel-Drefke

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The views and opinions expressed in the podcast and on this posting are those of the individual speakers or authors and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by METER.

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