Geo-Energie Jura SA welcomes AEW Energie AG, a significant energy provider, as it joins the existing anchor shareholders ebl, ewb, and ewz to invest in Geo-Energie Jura. Geo-Energie Suisse is also involved alongside these shareholders.
AEW is investing in deep geothermal energy, acknowledging that Switzerland's largest energy source lies directly beneath us. This step strengthens support for the Swiss flagship project in the municipality of Haute-Sorne in the Canton of Jura.
AEW has recognized the opportunities of deep geothermal energy and the great potential offered by its upcoming scaling and market readiness. It is considering applying this technology in its own distribution area to provide electricity and heat to the population. The government of the Canton of Aargau decided years ago to create favourable conditions for the use of deep geothermal energy. The timing is ripe as advancements in drilling technology in recent years have significantly improved the economic viability of geothermal plants.
The Haute-Sorne Project In Haute-Sorne, Geo-Energie Jura SA is planning a geothermal power plant fed by two wells approximately 5000 meters deep. This is a flagship project designed to demonstrate the technological feasibility of using deep geothermal energy in the Swiss subsurface. The exploratory drilling and tests completed in 2025 were very successful.
The plant is expected to be connected to the grid in 2029 with an electrical capacity of up to 5 MW, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 6,000 to 10,000 households. The government of the Canton of Jura granted the framework permit back in 2015 and has since closely monitored the project. Geo-Energie Jura SA anticipates approval over the summer to proceed with this pilot project, which is financially supported and institutionally guided by the federal government. The federal government’s Energy Perspectives 2050+ envisage geothermal electricity generation of 2 TWh per year. In terms of heat, the industry estimates potential at around 17 TWh per year, which would cover about a quarter of Switzerland's total heat demand by 2050.
The Potential of Deep Geothermal Energy The new sequential stimulation method being used in Jura was developed in Switzerland and is now deployed in the USA. There, large-scale investments are being made into the latest generation of deep geothermal energy, driven by the increasing energy demands of AI data centres. This innovative technology can also play a key role in sustainable energy provision for Switzerland.
Deep geothermal energy is: - CO2-free and renewable - Available around the clock (base load energy) - Independent of foreign raw materials - Flexibly usable depending on demand.
With its flexible base load energy, deep geothermal energy can contribute to closing the winter electricity gap. Besides electricity, the plants also produce heat for the supply of cities and industrial companies, and serve as seasonal energy storage.
AEW, Geo-Energie Jura, and their shareholders have signed an investment agreement. The participation is subject to formal committee and authority decisions.
Geo-Energie Jura SA Geo-Energie Jura SA was founded in 2015 to realize the geothermal project in Haute-Sorne. It is based in Haute-Sorne and its current shareholders are Geo-Energie Suisse and the energy companies ebl, ewb, and ewz.
Geo-Energie Suisse AG Geo-Energie Suisse AG is Switzerland's competence center for deep geothermal energy. As a consortium of leading Swiss energy providers, it leverages geoscientific innovations to harness the enormous potential of geothermal energy. As a shareholder of Geo-Energie Jura SA, Geo-Energie Suisse drives Switzerland's flagship project forward.
More information about the development and use of deep geothermal energy: www.geo-energie.ch/tiefengeothermie/
Media Contact: David Gautschi, Head of Production and Member of the Executive Board of AEW Energie AG Phone +41 62 834 21 11