The municipalities of Vaterstetten and Grasbrunn have already committed to participating in the geothermal project, while Haar and Zorneding still have the option of joining. A basic resolution for the execution of the geothermal project was approved by the municipal council of Vaterstetten in mid-2022. The joint company between the two municipalities, which is to be founded in the autumn, is hoping that a state guarantee can provide some risk protection in the case of a failed drilling.
Grasbrunn’s Mayor Klaus Korneder had already received an affirmative response from Minister Aiwanger regarding the request. Along with the mayor of Vaterstetten, Leonhard Spitzauer, he is now planning to underline a request for assistance in a joint letter to the Ministry.
In a previous statement, Mayor Spitzauer mentioned that a total investment of EUR 75 million is anticipated to be needed for the project. The municipality alone cannot fund this, and will be needing investors.
Korneder believes that the State will be taking on a manageable risk should it grant a guarantee fund. With substantial subsurface data on Vaterstetten based on seismic studies, failure of drilling is not expected. The benefits having a guarantee fund cannot be overstated – it will help the municipalities in securing even more funding to advance the geothermal project.
According to a previous release, the production phase of the proposed geothermal project in Vaterstetten is planned to start by 2025 t0 2026. However, expansion of the district heating network is likely to take more time and may have to wait until 2030.
