SPIE, the independent European pioneer in multi-technical services in the areas of energy and communications, will take over operational management of the world’s first commercial geothermal power plant that uses deep geothermal rock to generate district heating and electricity. Eavor Erdwärme Geretsried GmbH & Co KG commissioned the project. The plant will supply Geretsried and the surrounding region with district heating and electricity, setting new standards for ground-breaking, sustainable energy supply.
The power generation process will start operations in the autumn, while district heating production is currently in the planning stage. Once it has been completed, SPIE will also take over its operational management and ensure plant availability.
The Eavor-Loop™ is a geothermal power plant with a closed-loop system. Two drilling rigs bore vertically to a depth of 4,500 metres, each between 3,000 and 3,500 metres long. The fluid injected from above is naturally heated in the lower section of the system as it passes through the deep rock before rising to the surface without the need for additional pumps, thanks to the thermosiphon effect. The heat is then extracted via a heat exchanger and can be used directly for district heating networks or electricity generation.