Potential of geothermal energy in the Munich region

01.03.2024


Source: Energy & Management Powernews

The greater Munich area is well suited for the development of deep geothermal energy. The Giga-M research project is now clarifying just how well.

The "GIGA-M" project is using a 3D seismic campaign to further explore the subsurface in and around the Bavarian capital over an area of around 1,000 square kilometers. Together with existing data, a depth model is to be created for the greater Munich area as a basis for the management of the thermal water resources, the Munich city administration announced.

The costs for seismic investigations, model creation, development of new development methods and the removal of non-technical barriers amount to almost 20 million euros. Around 11 million euros of this will be covered by the Federal Ministry of Economics.

The funding decision from Berlin has now been received. The research project can now "officially begin, will run for four years and pave the way for the regional transition to a climate-neutral, secure and affordable heat supply".

The aim is to tap into the thermal energy underground quickly and sustainably through numerous new projects. This will be achieved through "optimized joint use of the thermal water reservoir in the greater Munich area".

The district of Munich, the Ebersberg-Munich Energy Agency, the city of Munich and Stadtwerke München are working together under the leadership of the Technical University of Munich. Energie-Wende Garching, one of the operators of geothermal plants in the surrounding area, is also involved.

An estimated additional potential of 1,000 MW

Currently, the deep, Upper Jurassic thermal water reservoir in the greater Munich area is already being used by more than 42 boreholes with a total thermal output of around 400 MW. The remaining potential is estimated at more than 1,000 MW.

The Giga-M research project aims to provide answers as to how this potential can be tapped and utilized quickly and on an inter-municipal basis. Another issue is the lack of space for boreholes, generation plants and power lines.

All existing and planned boreholes are to be integrated into this model in order to simulate the associated thermal use underground. The joint project should help to optimally coordinate the planned measures for the development and use of geothermal energy in the greater Munich area in order to avoid conflicts of use and exploit synergies.

This is because all geothermal plants extract and inject heat from the same contiguous thermal water reservoir. "The water and heat transport does not adhere to city or municipal boundaries, nor to the boundaries of existing mining rights fields."

Author: Stefan Sagmeister