Local utility in Mannheim, Germany is looking at geothermal district heating

In looking at solutions for the replacement of a large heating plant in Mannheim in the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, local energy company MVV is eyeing the use of geothermal energy.

This was announced by CEO Georg Müller in an interview with a local newspaper. “Basically, the Upper Rhine Graben is a suitable area for this,” said Müller. That is why the MVV is seeking permission to carry out exploration “in the greater area south of Mannheim”.

The MVV supplies around 165,000 households in the Rhine-Neckar region with district heating. It is mainly generated in the large heating plant that is to be shut down. Due to the coal phase-out, this will probably have to cease operations by 2033 at the latest. That is why MVV is looking for alternative district heating solutions. In addition to geothermal energy, the construction of a biomass power plant, the increased use of industrial waste heat and the use of river heat pumps are also being examined, said Müller.

We reported on these joint efforts by the energy companies of EnBW and MVV in November 2019. The effort to replace coal for the district heating in Mannheim is a joint project by EnBW and MVV. The coal fired plant in Mannheim that is to be shut down is jointly owned and operated by the energy companies of MVV, RWE and EnBW.

Source: Morgenweb

Note: This article was adapted to reflect the joint efforts by MVV with its partner EnBW.