FAQ

The vibrations generated by the Vibro-Trucks can be felt as a tingling sensation in the soles of the feet in the immediate vicinity of the vehicles. Vibrations comparable to those caused by a passing tram may also be perceptible in buildings situated directly alongside the test track.

Accompanying measurements of ground vibrations ensure that the limit values defined in the DIN 4150 standard on vibrations in the construction industry and their effects on structures are complied with.

Seismic surveys for our geothermal project have officially begun. Over the coming weeks, our vibro-trucks will be operating in various parts of the region. Work began in the east of the city. We will be providing regular updates on the latest progress via our social media channels and on the homepage of pfälzer-wärme.de.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide precise advance information for individual streets or sections. Daily planning depends largely on traffic volumes, weather conditions and other factors, and we often only receive this information at very short notice. All available information will be provided as transparently and up-to-date as possible.

Should any damage have occurred in connection with the 3D seismic surveys, please report this to our team at Pfälzer Wärme via pfaelzer-waerme@swk-kl.de. Please also provide us with your address and telephone number so that we can get in touch with you.

We will record the incident and forward it immediately. The damage report will then be assessed by independent surveyors before any potential compensation is paid.

Our survey work is comprehensively monitored and carefully checked to prevent damage as far as possible from the outset.

It is not possible to lodge an objection to the seismic surveys. The project has been coordinated with all the relevant authorities and has been fully approved. We therefore hold the necessary permits to carry out the surveys.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our team of experts at any time at pfaelzer-waerme@swk-kl.de.

Since the summer of 2025, we have been providing comprehensive information about the project and its individual stages. This has included several information events in the region, as well as ongoing coverage in local daily newspapers. In addition, advertisements have been published regularly in the Wochenblatt and the Rheinpfalz. We provide detailed project information both on the SWK website and on the project page. To complement this, we are continuously publishing posts via our social media channels. Antenne Kaiserslautern has also already reported on the project in this context.

The information leaflets for local residents will be distributed gradually, in line with the progress of the work, to ensure they reach the affected areas in good time before the measurements begin.

Before the vibro-trucks start work, eye-catching yellow markings are applied to the road using spray paint. These marks indicate the points where the seismic measurements will be carried out.

The ‘small boxes’ are geophones – highly sensitive measuring devices used to detect ground vibrations.

Around 28,000 geophones are being deployed across the entire survey area to investigate the subsurface. Many of these are located along roads and paths, in meadows and fields, and on municipal and private land.
The devices are GPS-tracked, so their position can be traced at any time. Before they were deployed, the necessary access and usage permissions were obtained from the relevant landowners.

Important to note:
Geophones are purely passive sensors. They do not transmit any signals and only record ground vibrations – they do not carry out any further recordings.

Our service provider, DTM, is required to obtain the prior consent of the owners before entering private property.

Should access nevertheless have taken place without your permission, please contact us immediately at pfaelzer-waerme@swk-kl.de.

Although the seismic trucks are soundproofed and comply with the relevant guidelines, residents living along the measurement routes will experience significant noise disturbance for around one to two hours.

We apologise for this inconvenience and thank you for your understanding regarding the measurements.

The vibrations generated by the Vibro-Trucks can be felt as a tingling sensation in the soles of the feet in the immediate vicinity of the vehicles. Vibrations comparable to those caused by a passing tram may also be perceptible in buildings situated directly alongside the test track.

Accompanying measurements of ground vibrations ensure that the limit values defined in the DIN 4150 standard on vibrations in the construction industry and their effects on structures are complied with.

Weighing between 20 and 30 tonnes, the Vibro-Trucks are comparable to large lorries or harvesters. The lighter vehicles are authorised for use on public roads, whilst special permits are applied for in the case of heavier trucks. As a rule, they can also be driven on field and forest tracks without causing damage. In the event that the vibrations do cause damage to the road, funds are set aside to cover the cost of repairs.

Seismic measurements were developed as a minimally invasive method to provide an initial insight into rock strata. Apart from a brief period of noise disturbance, there are no adverse effects on people or the natural environment. To bystanders, the vibrations required for the survey feel similar to a tram passing by.

The intensity of the vibrations is also monitored using ground vibration measurements to ensure compliance with DIN 4150 (Vibrations in construction and their effects on structures). This serves to prevent damage to buildings.

The survey team, travelling in a convoy of three to five vehicles, may cause disruption to traffic. The survey team is comparable to a mobile roadworks site and may lead to traffic jams and other traffic disruptions. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

A measurement takes one minute and is accompanied by control measurements in accordance with DIN 4150.

Experience from recent years in cities such as Münster, Basel and Munich shows that seismic measurements can be carried out without any problems, even in densely populated areas. Information on buildings and utility lines is gathered as early as the planning stage for the measurement lines.

During the measurements, a safe distance from buildings is also maintained and ground vibrations are recorded. The DIN 4150 standard on vibrations in the construction industry and their effects on structures specifies limit values for this, which are monitored and adhered to with the help of these measurements.

Should any damage have occurred in connection with the 3D seismic surveys, please report this to our team at Pfälzer Wärme via pfaelzer-waerme@swk-kl.de. Please also provide us with your address and telephone number so that we can contact you.

We will record the incident and forward it immediately. The damage report will then be assessed by independent surveyors before any potential compensation is paid.

Our survey work is comprehensively monitored and carefully checked to minimise the risk of damage as far as possible from the outset.

Geothermal energy presents a significant opportunity for our future heating supply. Not only does this technology enable large quantities of heat to be made available all year round, but the energy is also locally available, cost-stable in the long term and renewable. It will enable us to further expand and decarbonise our district heating network and shape the future of Kaiserslautern.

Pfälzer Wärme is a brand of SWK Stadtwerke Kaiserslautern. It stands for progress and the exploration of geothermal potential in the Kaiserslautern region. With Pfälzer Wärme, we are driving forward the decarbonisation of district heating and setting an example for the future. It brings together all our activities relating to geothermal energy, communicates our commitment and brings to life a vision of a carbon-free heating supply.

Permitting officers are our on-site contacts. They obtain permits and authorisations so that the vibration vehicles are allowed to travel on paths and roads, and in doing so liaise, for example, with the relevant authorities and local residents.

In addition, the Permitting Team receives any reports of damage and passes them on.

Seismic measurements can be compared to an ultrasound scan of the subsurface. So-called seismic or vibro-trucks travel along survey lines, stopping at pre-determined points where they transmit slight vibrations (sound waves) into the subsurface via a hydraulically lowerable vibrating plate located beneath the vehicle. These vibrations are reflected at the boundaries between different rock layers and recorded back at the surface by small measuring devices known as geophones.

Analysis of the data produces a three-dimensional image of the subsurface, which provides information about the various rock layers and fracture zones.

The principle behind 2D and 3D seismic surveys is the same. The difference lies in the orientation of the seismic lines.

For 2D seismic surveys, the geophones are laid out along a single line, and measurements are taken in only one direction (length). The resulting subsurface image is two-dimensional (length and depth) and provides an initial overview of the depth and thickness of the rock layers.

In 3D seismic surveys, such as those planned for Kaiserslautern, the geophones are arranged in a square or rectangle. The seismic measurements are taken along seismic lines oriented both lengthwise and widthwise. The result is a three-dimensional subsurface model (length, width, depth). This allows the subsurface to be mapped in much greater detail.

Whether a rock layer is suitable for hydrothermal geothermal energy depends on various factors. High porosity means there are many small voids in which water can be stored, much like in a wet sponge. This deep groundwater can circulate underground along larger and smaller fracture zones (syn.: fault zones). When drilling, we aim to hit precisely these ‘water highways’.

Geothermal power stations are designed to operate for at least thirty years. Based on current experience with pioneering plants in Riehen near Basel in Switzerland (commissioned in 1994), in Erding near Munich (commissioned in 1998/2008) and in Riem near Munich (commissioned in 2004), this appears to be a realistic prospect. Longer operation may also be possible, as demonstrated by the oldest European plant in Larderello, Italy, which first generated electricity in 1913.

It’s hot inside the Earth! Estimates suggest temperatures of over 5,000 degrees Celsius in the Earth’s core, which are constantly flowing towards the Earth’s surface. Added to this is heat generated by the constant decay of naturally occurring radioactive elements in the Earth’s mantle and crust. Consequently, by human standards, the heat stored within the Earth is inexhaustible.

Even at a depth of just a few metres, the temperature rises steadily. In Germany, this amounts to an average of three degrees Celsius per 100 metres of depth.

Hydrothermal geothermal energy utilises natural deep hot water reserves to generate heat and electricity. The deep water is accessed via at least two boreholes. In the production well, the hot deep groundwater reaches the earth’s surface, where it is channelled through a heat exchanger within a closed pipe system and cooled in the process. The water is then returned to the extraction layer via the injection well, where it reheats. Apart from the heat, we extract nothing else – unlike in the case of thermal spas.

Geothermal energy has been successfully used as an energy source in various regions of Germany for over 20 years. There are currently 34 plants in operation. Of these, 31 are dedicated heating plants or combined heat and power plants, whilst three plants generate electricity exclusively.

The total installed thermal capacity amounts to over 450 megawatts.