Mar 3, 2026
Magglingen, Switzerland has decided to discontinue its deep geothermal heating project.
The city of Magglingen in the Bern canton of Switzerland has decided to halt its planned deep geothermal heating project, citing that further exploratory work would be highly complex and result in significantly increased costs. The local government remains dedicated to decarbonization and will look into alternative energy sources to replace the current natural gas heating system.
The Magglingen geothermal project, led by the Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics (BBL), aimed to deliver geothermal heating to the Magglingen National Sports Center operated by the Federal Office of Sport (BASPO) by 2029. A seismic survey conducted for three weeks at the beginning of 2023 was intended to evaluate the site's subsurface geology and geothermal potential.
An update in 2025 revealed plans for exploratory drilling in Magglingen by the end of 2027, targeting depths between 1500 and 2300 meters. There was also an intention to seek funding from the Federal Parliament for the project. However, with the latest announcement, these plans appear to be no longer viable.
According to the BBL, the costs associated with deep drilling were expected to be substantially higher than initially estimated. The decision was also influenced by an assessment of the economic feasibility of the proposed geothermal plant over its entire lifecycle.
The BBL confirmed that the data gathered from the geothermal exploration in Magglingen would still contribute to enhancing the understanding of the region's geology and subsurface. Given that relatively little is known about Switzerland's subsurface, all measurement data is deemed valuable. This information will be accessible to the public via the Federal Office of Topography, swisstopo.
The federal government continues to pursue decarbonization of the heat supply at the BASPO site and is investigating various alternative energy sources. Geothermal energy remains one of the options, focusing on shallower sources that can be drilled at a lower cost and paired with heat pumps. Other alternatives include air-source heat pumps or seasonal energy storage. Currently, the heating supply relies on natural gas and wood pellets, and it is not anticipated to be replaced before 2031.
The Magglingen geothermal project, led by the Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics (BBL), aimed to deliver geothermal heating to the Magglingen National Sports Center operated by the Federal Office of Sport (BASPO) by 2029. A seismic survey conducted for three weeks at the beginning of 2023 was intended to evaluate the site's subsurface geology and geothermal potential.
An update in 2025 revealed plans for exploratory drilling in Magglingen by the end of 2027, targeting depths between 1500 and 2300 meters. There was also an intention to seek funding from the Federal Parliament for the project. However, with the latest announcement, these plans appear to be no longer viable.
According to the BBL, the costs associated with deep drilling were expected to be substantially higher than initially estimated. The decision was also influenced by an assessment of the economic feasibility of the proposed geothermal plant over its entire lifecycle.
The BBL confirmed that the data gathered from the geothermal exploration in Magglingen would still contribute to enhancing the understanding of the region's geology and subsurface. Given that relatively little is known about Switzerland's subsurface, all measurement data is deemed valuable. This information will be accessible to the public via the Federal Office of Topography, swisstopo.
The federal government continues to pursue decarbonization of the heat supply at the BASPO site and is investigating various alternative energy sources. Geothermal energy remains one of the options, focusing on shallower sources that can be drilled at a lower cost and paired with heat pumps. Other alternatives include air-source heat pumps or seasonal energy storage. Currently, the heating supply relies on natural gas and wood pellets, and it is not anticipated to be replaced before 2031.