Portrait
The GeothermalCenter (GZB) is a joined research establishment of science and economy with a close link to administration and politics. With its broad anchorage the GZB provides a competence and information center to the public in regard to all Queries concerning the utilisation and extraction of geothermal energy.
The GeothermalCenter ist made and supported by:
- the "GZB-Trägerverein - gemeinnützige wissenschaftliche Körperschaft e.V."; with the supporting universities RWTH Aachen, University of Applied Sciences Bochum, University of Applied Sciences Gelsenkirchen and the University of Applied Sciences Ostwestfalen-Lippe and further public organisations (EnergieAgentur NRW, District Government Arnsberg, City of Bochum and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry) as well as
- the "GZB-Wirtschaftsvereinigung e.V."; consisting of companies from the construction, energy, montan industry, communal supply, plant construction, building services, handcrafts and expert planning.
The GZB is pursuing following objectives:
- to transfer technology, know-how and information between universities, economy and the public,
- to conduct and to foster application-oriented geo-research between various universities and the economy; to install a “close to economy” research establishment based on the GZB for the foundation and/or the evolution of technology-oriented businesses,
- to supply education and advanced training to engineers, geo-scientists, miners, architects and craftsmen in terms of heat mining and its integration into the structures of buildings and infrastructural systems,
- to retrain employees of the mining industry in future energy technologies (“from coal mining – to heat mining”),
- establishment of a scientific network of associated universities and research bodies on the national and international scale,
- to increase the recognition of geothermal energy within North Rhine-Westphalia and beyond; and to institute an information service for contractors, planner and interested parties.
