MVV and EnBW step closer on license for planned geothermal project in Germany

Mannheim, BW/ Germany (source: flickr/ Metro Centric, creative common)

Local energy company MVV and utility EnBW have made a step forward in the planned use of geothermal energy for district heating at the “Hardt” in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. As the MVV announced on Monday together with EnBW, the State Office for Geology, Raw Materials and Mining wants to grant the two companies the appropriate concession for the “Hardt” field in the Schwetzingen area. The area is almost 270 square kilometers and extends on the right bank of the Rhine from the south of Mannheim to Reilingen.

Before the license will be granted, the municipalities and specialist authorities are asked as the bearers of public concerns. A final result can be expected at the end of the year at the earliest. The two project partners plan to start preliminary investigations next year in order to identify potential locations for drilling and to calculate the profitability.

“Only then would the permit applications for the necessary boreholes and geothermal use as well as the integration into the existing district heating network for the most suitable locations be submitted,” said MVV project manager Matthias Wolf according to the announcement. A company spokesman explained that it is not yet possible to say when and where to drill. MVV is working with EnBW on the project because it “already has experience in this area”. In geothermal projects, the geothermal energy is used to generate electricity or district heating. The Upper Rhine Graben is considered favorable for this.

Further details on the project can be found on the website set up for the project (in German): www.geothermie-hardt.de

EnBW operates the geothermal power plant of Bruchsal in Germany, and is involved with the geothermal power plant of Soultz-sous-Forets in France.

MVV has geothermal operations for heating in Weinheim, Germany, and Decin in the Czech Republic.

Source: Mannheimer Morgen