Bachelor Thesis from the year 2004 in the subject Environmental Sciences, grade: 2.0 (B), Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus, language: English, abstract: Worldwide the demand in energy is increasing continuously. The awareness that fossil energy resources are limited and the fluctuation of crude oil- and natural gas prices were leading internationally and nationally to the recognition of geothermal energy as a possible energy source among the renewable energies (Rummel et al., 1993). Geothermal energy is the heat of the earth. According to technical applications geothermal energy can be classified into three different natural systems, the shallow geothermal system, the hydrothermal low or high pressure systems and the hot dry rock system. These three systems of geothermal energy are described according to their possibilities of technical application. Legal requirements are playing a significant role in the application of geothermal energy as well as the political situation with regard to energy politics in the different states of Germany. Special attention is given to the state Brandenburg. At first the geologic conditions have to be outlined. From the geologic conditions and the energy political situation as well as the supply and demand structure in Brandenburg, the potential for the use of geothermal energy is arising. Applications of geothermal energy started in the beginning of the 20th century in Brandenburg are in form of thermal springs. In the second half of the 20th century the use in Brandenburg turned to the utilization of shallow geothermal energy and later to deep geothermal energy projects. Today mainly the shallow geothermal energy systems are used commercially because they are economically wise in contrast to deep geothermal energy systems which can not be used economically wise yet. Their technology is still under development. Current projects will show their stage of development.