“Good Practice” Guide for Managing Induced Seismicity in Deep Geothermal Energy Projects in Switzerland

Abstract

The proposed framework is currently customized to Switzerland and can be adapted to other regions or types of geo-energy applications.

Deep geothermal systems can induce potentially damaging seismicity. How this seismicity should be addressed depends on the geothermal system itself, its operational characteristics, the geological context, the exposed buildings, infrastructure and populations, as well as social concern. After a presentation of the natural and induced seismicity in Switzerland, this report promotes the use of the initial screening tool, called Geothermal Risk of Induced seismicity Diagnosis (GRID, Trutnevyte & Wiemer, 2017), for estimating to what extent induced seismicity is of concern for a specific project. A framework for tailor-made risk governance measures to be taken through the different phases of a project is then recommended, including hazard and risk assessment, seismic monitoring, traffic light systems, seismic reflection data interpretation, and public and stakeholder engagement.