Geothermal drilling starts for Munich aero engine manufacturing facility

Geothermal drilling operations at the MTU site in Munich, Germany (source: Erdwerk)

Drilling has begun for a geothermal doublet at the main plant of MTU Aero Engines AG, an engine manufacturer located in the north of Munich, Germany.  In the future, geothermal energy as a heat source will largely replace the plant’s current gas-powered heat supply.  A geothermal output of at least 10 MW is expected.

Boreholes will be drilled to a depth of around two kilometers, targeting the Malm formation. Both wells will be drilled from a cluster drilling site located immediately east of MTU’s production facilities. The planned production well is aimed towards the south and the planned reinjection well towards the north. Due to the deviated path, the drilling distances are up to 3,300 m per hole. If everything goes according to plan, the deep drilling work, including short-term tests, will be completed by mid-2024.

MTU is a Munich-based aircraft engine manufacturer specializing in both military and civil aircraft applications. We had previously reported on the plans of MTU to integrate geothermal heating to their facilities and a prior application for a geothermal exploration permit from the government of Upper Bavaria, as well as the selection of German drilling company Daldrup & Söhne AG as the general contractor for the project.

ERDWERK has been managing MTU’s geothermal energy project since 2020, starting with the basic investigation, support in the mining approval process including the application for the Karlsfeld-Ost permit field, the feasibility study, detailed planning and the tendering process. During the drilling and testing phase, ERDWERK provides continuous geological and drilling support and also acts as the client’s representative on site.

Source: Erdwerk