Questions and answers

So far, attempts have been made to find hot aquifers, deep underground, suitable for energy production. Although the region has high geothermal potential, these traditional methods were unsuccessful, resulting in project discontinuation. Eavor is now pursuing a completely different approach that does not require aquifers at all. Instead, an underground heat exchanger is drilled into the deep rock, similar to an underground radiator, eliminating the need for rare geologic conditions. Eavor has wisely started the project in Geretsried to demonstrate how an Eavor-Loop™ works independently of aquifers and hydrothermal deposits.

Learn how the Eavor-Loop™ works here.

We are delighted about the significant public interest in our project. Preparation of the drilling site is underway, with drilling expected to start in the summer of 2023. Our on-site visitor centre will open when work commences, where you can learn in detail about how the Eavor-Loop™ works, the drilling technology used, as well as the current project status and plans for the future.

The actual drilling work is expected to start at the end of the second quarter of 2023, i.e. in June. At the same time, construction of the turbine power plant will start, which will convert the extracted geothermal energy into electrical energy for around 5,000 households. Some of the geothermal energy will then also be fed directly into a district heating network at a later date.

The first stage of the Eavor-Loop™ is expected to be completed by June 2024, and the plant is anticipated to reach full capacity in 2027 when construction and drilling are complete. By bypassing traditional discovery risks, Eavor-Loop™ technology significantly reduces construction time by allowing for early delivery of turbine equipment, demonstrating the innovation and superiority of the technology.

Eavor has chosen the site at Hofgut Breitenbach carefully in order to minimize the impact of the construction on local residents. The site is located approximately two kilometres from the built-up area of Geretsried, and drilling operations are carried out as quietly as possible . Assembly, disassembly, and transportation of drilling rigs may cause disturbances, but these processes will only occur on a limited number of days each year. The site is easily accessible via the A95 highway, meaning no increase in heavy traffic through local communities. Eavor will always display the transport schedules in advance on their website and inform the local media in this respect.

Eavor’s underground heat exchanger works like a loop, hence the name Eavor-Loop™. Two boreholes are drilled in parallel simultaneously to reduce construction time, but the technical challenge is to connect the two boreholes at a depth of approximately 5,000 meters in the deep rock. This creates a circuit in which the working fluid flows through the rock to collect heat, which is extracted at the surface. The working fluid then returns underground, repeating the collection and extraction process. The parallel operation of two drilling rigs facilitates this and also saves construction time.

It will take some time before our Eavor-Loop™ supplies the region with heat. In the first phase, the Eavor-Loop™ will be connected to a turbine power plant to generate electricity. Approximately 5,000 households will be able to obtain local, clean and renewably generated electricity at this stage. Then, expansion of and connection to a regional district heating network will be considered. Additional underground loops will be added, enabling supply of clean anad safe heat to the entire region. According to current planning, we will start supplying heat in the second half of 2024.

As a renewable form of energy, the Eavor-Loop™ avoids a significant amount of CO₂ emissions compared to fossil fuel and other energy production technologies. The entire project, including heat production, will lead to an avoidance of approx. 44,000 t CO₂e per year.