Revolutionary Geothermal Technology Set to Transform Energy in Small German Town: A Game-Changer for Sustainable Living

In Geretsried, a small German town, people have dreamed of using geothermal energy for clean heat and electricity. This desire has been around for years, but it hit a snag about 15 years back. A drilling company couldn’t find enough hot water close to the ground to make it work. This left the town reliant on natural gas.

First Mayor Michael Müller, who grew up there, remembers the disappointment. “We gave up. We had big hopes,” he said.

Now, a new wave of geothermal companies is stepping in with fresh methods. These companies drill deep into the earth to tap into heat from hot rock, not relying on surface water. One of these companies, Eavor, is set to launch its first commercial power plant in Geretsried, making this town of about 26,000 a testing ground for the future of geothermal energy.

The International Energy Agency believes in this potential. Their recent report highlights breakthroughs that could make geothermal energy more accessible. By drilling deeper than 3 kilometers (nearly 2 miles), many countries can now harness this energy source.

“It has been a niche energy and concentrated in a few countries,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. But he thinks geothermal can soon play a bigger role globally.

Eavor’s CEO, John Redfern, sees the earlier drilling failure in Geretsried as a chance for redemption. The town’s geology is not flashy, but it offers a true test of their technology. “What better way to prove that than to put our first well where they tried and failed?” he said.

Germany is committed to moving away from fossil fuels, especially for heating, which contributes significantly to carbon emissions. The need for reliable energy became even clearer after the war in Ukraine made reliance on Russian natural gas risky.

Eavor has previously showcased its technology in Canada and is familiar with Geretsried’s past drilling efforts since one of its executives once worked with the contractors there.

The Geretsried project will start by generating electricity and will later add heat for a district heating system.

In district heating, heat is produced at a central location and then sent out to homes and businesses. This system often relies on burning fossil fuels. In Europe alone, there are about 17,000 district heating networks serving millions.

In the U.S., these systems are mainly on campuses, at hospitals, and in some downtown areas. Some universities have started switching from gas to geothermal to fight climate change.

Eavor is also working to provide heat in Hanover, a city moving away from coal.

The company’s method involves drilling two deep wells, then extending a series of lateral wells to maximize contact with the hot rock, creating what they call the “Eavor loop.” Geretsried’s project will feature four loops of wells.

Eavor uses a different approach than fracking. In Geretsried, they will pump water down to heat it up by coming into contact with hot rock, letting it rise naturally through a return well.

The heated water can then warm the utility’s water, which is distributed through pipes to homes, heating about 36,000 of them. It can also spin turbines to generate electricity without releasing greenhouse gases.

Mayor Müller emphasizes the need to start shifting energy approaches now, saying, “We can’t depend on fossil fuels long term. We need to tackle climate change and ensure secure energy.” He believes it’s time for action. “We want to remain future proof,” he stated. “So let’s start the future.”

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