Lower Austria starts deep geothermal exploration campaign for district heating

The state of Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) in Austria has officially started a research and exploration campaign that seeks to identify and develop deep geothermal resources for heating. The initiative will be under the partnership between the state of Lower Austria and power company EVN.

At a press conference to signal the start of the project, Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner said that the plan is to put up the first deep geothermal plant by 2030, and a second plant by 2035. Seismis surveys and research drilling will be done to determine the exact potential of the geothermal resource. Early results indicate that there is enough energy at depths of 3000 to 4500 meters to supply the heating needs of pup to 900,000 households.

EVN CEO Stefan Szyszkowitz explained that it is important to find the right location and to engage in active dialogue with the citizens to gain widespread acceptance for the project. EVN had already been intensively researching deep geothermal potential for the last three years, and have identified the greatest potential in the thermal spa region of the industrial district.

The partners stated that they will be investing nearly EUR 100 million into the project by 2030. “In total, 90 percent of the energy for heating in Lower Austria should come from renewable sources by 2035,” concluded State Vice President Stephan Pernkopf.

Elsewhere in Austria, Vienna is already at a more advanced stage of deep geothermal exploration with discharge tests ongoing at the drilled wells in the Aspern district. Project partners OMV and Wien Energie aim to develop deep geothermal plants with a capacity of approximately 200 MW.

Source: Kronen Zeitung, ORF.at, and EVN via LinkedIn