Dr. Erwin Knapek of German Geothermal Association receives Bavarian State Medal

Thorsten Faithr (l.), Minister of State for the Environment and Consumer Protection and Dr. Erwin Knapek (r.), Honorary President of the German Geothermal Association. (source: Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection)

Dr. Erwin Knapek, honorary president of the Federal Geothermal Association (Bundesverband Geothermie) of Germany has been awarded the Bavarian State Medal for special services to the environment and consumer protection. This award is given annually by the Bavarian State Minister for the Environment and Consumer Protection to up to 15 people, associations, or municipalities who have made outstanding contributions to nature and environmental protection.

The physicist Erwin Knapek is a pioneer of geothermal energy in Germany and has stood for the feasibility of the heat transition for many years. His expertise, his courage and his persuasive powers convinced, inspired and motivated many imitators, resulting in Germany’s largest geothermal cluster to date in the Bavarian Molasse Basin.

From 1996 to 2008 Dr. Erwin Knapek was the 1st mayor of Unterhaching and was equally respected by politicians and the geothermal industry. In this function he initiated the development and realization of the Unterhaching geothermal power plant in 2001.

Since 2006 he has been chairman of the Wirtschaftsforum Geothermie eV, since 2013 president of the Bundesverband Geothermie and has been its honorary president since 2021. He is considered a brilliant speaker and balancing character,

The State Medal of the Free State of Bavaria is a visible sign of recognition and thanks for its outstanding commitment to nature, environmental and climate protection. It is the highest award that the Bavarian state has given for “special services to the environment”.

Source: Bundesverband Geothermie