Geothermal project launched in Geretsried

08.12.2025

Source: E & M powernews

The system near Munich has recently started feeding electricity into the grid. The operator Eavor is thus demonstrating the contribution that closed drilling systems can make to energy supply in the future.

It is the first commercial geothermal project of its kind in the world, which the company Eavor is operating in southern Bavaria. According to the geothermal specialist headquartered in Calgary (Canada), the feed-in of electricity is combined with a specially developed technology that requires no additional water treatment and no further drilling. According to Eavor, this combination should improve the economic viability and technical feasibility of geothermal projects.

Mark Fitzgerald, President and CEO of Eavor, emphasizes: "We were able to feed the first electrons from closed, multilateral wells into the grid." Fitzgerald points out that the system requires no water extraction from the surrounding area, which reduces operating costs over the course of the project.

Closed drilling system implemented

The Canadians are using two vertical boreholes for the "Eavor Loop" in Geretsried, from each of which six horizontal directional boreholes branch off. Eavor uses what is known as an "Active Magnetic Ranging Tool" to connect the horizontal boreholes underground. This process measures magnetic signals from the target borehole during drilling and enables precise control of the drill head alignment. As a result, the later linked side holes can be drilled with pinpoint accuracy, without additional measuring steps or subsequent measuring runs. According to Eavor, these boreholes are among the longest in the world, with a continuous drilling distance of 16 kilometers per pair.

According to the company, the plant generates usable heat and electricity around the clock. Eavor does not provide more detailed information on performance and capacity. Only this much: the "loop technology" is adaptable to different geological conditions. The successful commissioning confirms that comparable projects can be realized in Europe and worldwide. Fabricio Cesario, responsible for project management and operations, announced in a press release that he intends to use the experience gained at other locations as a blueprint.

According to Eavor, Geretsried as a location forms the basis for a possible expansion of the technology in various regions and markets. Scaling the loop technology remains a central goal.

Author: Davina Spohn