Following reports of early talks a few weeks ago, energy company Badenova AG and technology company Herrenknecht AG have confirmed that they will be jointly developing a geothermal heating project at the Hartheim district near Freiburg in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
The project will be implemented through the project company Erdwärme Breisgau, in which each partner holds a 50% stake. Badenova and Herrenknecht are jointly investing around 60 million euros in developing the reservoir and constructing the heating plant. When completed, the facility is expected to supply around 2000 households in Freiburg with sustainable and reliable heat.
Last week, the project marked a major milestone with the approval of the main operating plan by the State Office for Geology, Raw Materials and Mining (LGRB). The plan involves drilling to a depth of approximately 3200 meters beneath the Hartheim district. Preparatory work will begin in autumn 2026 at the site near the A5 motorway, at the Hardt rest area near Hartheim. Drilling is currently scheduled to begin in the second half of 2027.
“Deep geothermal energy is a key technology for the energy transition – with the project on the A5 near Hartheim, we are now taking a major step forward together with Badenova. Together we are unlocking enormous energy potential that lies directly beneath our home region. In this way, we are creating the foundation for a sustainable heat supply,” said Dr.-Ing. Eh Martin Herrenknecht, CEO of Herrenknecht AG.
“Geothermal projects of this scale require diverse expertise. Herrenknecht contributes experience from deep drilling and infrastructure projects, while Badenova brings expertise from heat supply and district heating operations. We are pooling these competencies in the joint project company,” added Dirk Sattur, CEO of Badenova.
Source: Herrenknecht
