With private firm NULLCOZWEI GmbH now in charge of a proposed geothermal heating project in Bad Bevensen, Germany, plans for further exploration and drilling have become more definite. Seismic surveys can start as early as 2026, and drilling is planned for 2027. If everything goes to plan, then the geothermal heating plant can be operational by 2029.
NULLCOZWEI took over the geothermal project in Bad Bevensen following the decision of the city council to discontinue it under municipal ownership, stating that the project costs are too high and that the investment horizon is too long. As Managing Director Steffen Krause said, the concept for the project remains the same as when they received it, except for a few small changes to the development plan and the project’s risk profile.
One of the major developments is that the EUR 10 million drilling phase of the project can now be fully insured under a new federal funding program. The preliminary review of the insurance application has been already been completed, and the formal application is expected to be submitted by March 2026.
Moreover, the company would like the drilling operations to be done within the city limits so that the future heating plant can be located closed to the end-users. This means that the supply pipelines will be shorter and heat loss can be minimized.
Otherwise, the other parts of the development are still the same. Two wells are planned to be drilled to depths of around 3300 meters, where temperatures of up to 128 °C are expected. The company is legally obligated to drill a second borehole to maintain supply in case of outages or maintenance. The second borehole would also allow for the heating capacity to adjust to peak demands with the planned anchor tenants that include schools, clinics, the town hall, and thermal baths.
The latest estimate for the total cost of the project is EUR 29 million. The company emphasizes that the success of the project now relies on securing anchor tenants, as this will help improve the profitability of the project. Initial discussions have already taken place, and NULLCOZWEI assures that interest levels are high.
Source: AZ Online and Bundesverband Geothermie
