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 and the University of Applied Sciences Gelsenkirchen 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.
