MUNICH Geothermal energy is still on a growth curve in Bavaria: the Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs, Emilia Müller, visited the kick-off event for the first independent geothermal energy project of E.ON Bayern Wärme GmbH in Poing today. "The development of geothermal resources in Bavaria is gaining increasing momentum. Including the Poing project, we currently have as many as eight projects in the drilling phase – and by the end of the year there will probably be at least ten. Together with the seven projects already in operation, this success is unparalleled anywhere in Germany", Müller said with great satisfaction.
The Poing site is expected to produce hot water of nearly 85 ° C from a depth of 2,900 m. As soon as the second borehole is completed and the test results are available, it will probably be fed into the existing heating network in 2009/2010. "If the boreholes prove to be successful, local climate-friendly energy will be available for at least 1,000 households on a long-term basis. This marks another milestone in the development of geothermal energy in Bavaria, which I am sure will be followed by many more projects", the Minister underlined. Geothermal power could make a major contribution to ensuring an independent supply of energy. It could be used for several centuries and, as a source of energy entirely free of CO2, it also protected the climate.
The Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs has currently granted close on 100 mining permits for locating geothermal power. "Together with the projects already realized, they offer potential for use of up to 400 MW of electrical power. Besides the generation of electricity, an additional 1,800 MW of geothermal power can be achieved in the next 20 years", Müller added.
Source: Invest in Bavaria
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