Braunau-Simbach geothermal heating plant in Germany/Austria celebrates 25 years of operations

The Braunau-Simbach geothermal heating plant, which serves a district heating network that crosses the border between Austria and Germany, just recently celebrated the 25th year of their operations. To this day, it remains the largest cross-border district heating network in Central Europe and a symbol for reliable and sustainable heat supply.

Commissioned in 2000 and operated by Energie AG, the Braunau-Simbach geothermal heating plant has allowed the district heating network to have a 70% to 80% geothermal share. The heating network is approximately 45 kilometers long and serves around 950 customers in the two towns of Braunau in Upper Austria and Simbach in Bavaria. A geothermal well drilled to about 1900 meters depth continues to supply hot water at over 80 °C to the heating plant, which had retained stable output even after 25 years.

Braunau-Simbach is currently examining several options for the planned significant expansion of the supply area and to further increase the renewable share of heat generation. The existing capacity of the boreholes in Simbach am Inn is to be increased by means of a large heat pump. In Braunau am Inn, another geothermal doublet at the opposite end of the district heating network is planned to provide additional renewable heat output and ensure reliability.

“As the largest cross-border district heating network in Central Europe, the Braunau-Simbach geothermal plant has been a visible symbol of a reliable and sustainable heat supply for 25 years now. The project demonstrates how partnerships can secure the energy supply in the region in the long term,” said Energie AG CEO Leonhard Schitter.

Source: Energie AG and Bundesverband Geothermie