Status: 05.11.2023, 17:50 PM
By: Michael Seeholzer
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Workers at a geothermal power plant construction site handle a drill pipe. © Peter Kneffel/dpa
Geothermal energy instead of headwind: The Grafinger SPD has proposed a cross-community project to use heat from the depths in the southeast of the district.
Grafing/Landkreis – The topic of wind energy is often associated with a lot of headwind in the district of Ebersberg. The most recent example of resistance to such citizen projects is the municipality of Glonn. With their vote there, residents have clearly spoken out against the possible construction of three wind turbines for the time being. Hans Gröbmayr, the municipality's energy officer and former climate protection manager of the Ebersberg district, then announced his resignation. But what form of alternative energy generation would there be instead?
Geothermal energy: SPD wants to get several municipalities on board
The SPD in Graz is looking for an answer to this question. And it wants to get the surrounding municipalities of Ebersberg, Steinhöring, Frauenneuharting, Emmering, Aßling, Tuntenhausen, Bruck, Baiern, Glonn, Moosach and Kirchseeon as well as the district of Ebersberg itself on board. In an application to the city council, the formation of a round table is proposed "with the aim of determining a fundamental interest in a joint deep geothermal project".
In a second application, it is also proposed to commission an expert opinion to sound out the potentials of small hydropower in Grafing, or to investigate the possibility of reviving old small power plants. "The aim is to expand or reactivate one or more hydropower plants, whereby in each case not municipal but civic participation is to be strived for," the SPD proposes. In the winter of 2024, both topics are to be presented to the city council.
In a geothermal project, there must be many helping hands. The circle of those who participate in such a mammoth project cannot be large enough for financial reasons, as an example from the district of Traunstein shows. There, in the city of Traunreut, a geothermal power plant provides district heating. The investment costs amount to around 80 million euros and will be supplied to private customers, companies, industrial companies and public institutions.
City council to be informed about possibilities by summer 2024
The SPD parliamentary group in Grafinger is requesting "that the city council be informed about the possible potentials of deep geothermal energy in the southeastern district of Ebersberg in a special event until the summer of 2024. Information should also be provided on possible advantages and disadvantages. For this purpose, at least the Geothermal Alliance of Bavaria and the market town of Holzkirchen are requested for speakers." This event is intended as a possible prelude "to realize a deep geothermal project in the southeastern district of Ebersberg in the long term, if necessary."
Geothermal energy is available regardless of weather and time of day and is capable of base load, according to the SPD. This type of energy is resource-saving and durable and can be used for local and district heating as well as for electricity generation. However, it could also be used to cool buildings and industrial plants. In the Energy Atlas of Bavaria of the Bavarian State Agency for Environment and Nature Conservation, the area south, west and east of Grafing is listed as a potential use area for hydrothermal heat generation. "However, due to the necessary financial resources, it currently only seems possible to use it together with other municipalities," the SPD is clear.
You can read even more news from the Ebersberg region here. By the way: Everything from the region is also available in our regular Ebersberg newsletter.
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According to the comrades on their second application, the use of hydropower had already existed in Grafing in the past. In 1957, ten engines were still in operation. "It would be desirable if the reactivated, technically improved or newly built hydropower plants were operated in the hands of citizens," say the two SPD city councillors Regina Offenwanger and Christian Kerschner. "As applicants, we are aware that it is not easy to get appropriate water rights approved. But if Grafing has potential, then it's worth arguing about it."