A new company, Zukunftswärme M West (ZMW), has been officially founded as a joint venture of Stadtwerke München (SWM) and the neighboring cities of Puchheim and Germering. The company now aspires to investigate, plan, construct, and operate a new geothermal project in western Munich in Bavaria, Germany.
The project got underway in February, when the two city councils in Germering and Puchheim gave the green light for the merger. Subsequently, all the formal steps required for the company’s formation were initiated, which were recently completed with the entry in the commercial register. SWM currently holds a 60% stake in the company, while Germering holds a 25% stake and Puchheim a 15% stake.
Plans for a joint company were already indicated earlier this year. As previously pointed out, both the cities of Germering and Puchheim have attempted to develop geothermal projects in the past but were met with either financial or social acceptance of hurdles.
In the context of the new joint company, SWM provides 20 years of experience in operating six geothermal plants in the wider Munich area. A further advantage is that the costs of constructing and operating the plant can be shared.
“As project partners, we all have the same interest: securing renewable heat for our cities,” explains Norbert Seidl, Mayor of Puchheim. “Munich municipal utility company will contribute its extensive geothermal experience from the past 20 years. With its projects in the Munich area, it has proven that geothermal energy is an essential building block for a secure and stable heat supply. Thanks to this partnership, we look forward to the project with confidence.”
There is plenty of work to be done, with the three parties working together on applying for funding, commissioning a feasibility and study, and identifying the most suitable site for drilling. An initial information event for all residents is planned for the fall. Based on the current schedule, the geothermal plant will not be commissioned until 2033 at the earliest.
Source: Zukunftswärme M West
