Upper Austria’s first geothermal greenhouse now delivering harvest

BIOhof Geinberg organic farm (source: BIOhof Geinberg)

From October 2020 to March 2022, BIOhof Geinberg built the first geothermal greenhouse in Upper Austria. Today, the hand-picked organic vegetables – specifically organic tomatoes and pointed peppers – from this geothermal greenhouse are being harvested and delivered to SPAR supermarkets.

The BIOhof Geinberg geothermal greenhouse was constructed with an investment of around EUR 30 million. The greenhouse uses water at about 100 degrees Celsius pumped from 2000 meters depth for heating. The cooled fluids are then reinjected back to the ground.

With geothermal heating, the greenhouse can grow tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers beyond their natural season. In the months when harvest is high, the produce is sold in SPAR, EUROSPAR, and INTERSPAR.

The sustainability mechanisms of the greenhouse also extend to their power and water supply. Photovoltaic panels on the rooftop of the greenhouse provide power, while rainwater collection provides a self-sufficient supply of water. BIOhof Geinberg uses organic fertilizers, with only beneficial insects used to control pests in the greenhouse. At the end of each harvest period, plant waste is composted and used for new cultivation.

Source: Spar and  MeinBezirk.at