Frutura Obst & Gemüse Kompetenzzentrum GmbH (Frutura), a leading company in sustainable fruit and vegetable production, has been selected as the operator of a planned 18-hectare greenhouse in Neudau-Burgau in Styria, Austria, that will be heated with geothermal energy. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed by early 2027.
The EUR 92 million project is being developed by Alexander Kottulinsky (Kotax Farm & Forestry) together with the Supernova Group. The first construction phase will cover 10 hectares and will be completed by early 2027, with further 8-hectare expansion targeted by 2028. The heat required for the project will come from a depth of 2900 meters, which will be executed by RED Drilling. All associated projects have been approved by federal and state authorities
Plans for a mega-greenhouse in the eastern Styria region were started around three years ago by the Mayor Wolfgang Dolesch of Neudau, who quickly convinced Mayor Gregor Löffler of Burgau to work together. The geothermal potential in the region is shared between the two municipalities, thus making cooperation between the two mayors critical. The project is expected to create up to 250 news jobs, provide a sustainable food source, and potentially allow for geothermal heat supply to the cities.
“This project shows what is possible when municipalities, businesses, and agriculture pull together. It is a great opportunity for our region – both ecologically and economically,” said the two mayors in a joint statement.
After an intensive search for an operator, Frutura was chosen via its parent company DOL Group Gmb. Frutura has extensive expertise in the operation of geothermal-heated greenhouses, primarily in their project in Bad Blumau which has been operating since 2016. In 2024, Frutura installed an ORC module from Orcan Energy to convert excess heat in the Blumau facility to electricity.
Source: Steiermark, FreshPlaza, and Supernova Group
