As of: January 22, 2024, 1:35 p.m
By: Sascha Karowski
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The Munich municipal utilities operate, among other things, a geothermal energy plant in Freiham.
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The federal government has initially put the funding program for geothermal energy projects on hold.
The CSU wants to know what effects this has for Munich.
Munich - Due to the tight budget situation, the federal government has put the funding program for efficient heating networks (BEW) on hold.
Geothermal energy projects are also affected by this.
The CSU in the Munich city council now wants to know what impact this will have on the projects of the Munich municipal utilities (SWM).
Geothermal energy in Munich: municipal utilities operate six systems, and a seventh is being planned at Michaelibad
The municipal energy company operates six geothermal plants in the Munich region, including the currently largest German geothermal plant in Sendling.
A seventh facility is planned at Michaelibad.
District heating is generated by using geothermal energy.
The goal is for Munich to be able to cover its needs for climate-friendly district heating by 2040.
“Geothermal energy has great potential for the heat transition in Bavaria and the greater Munich area,” says CSU boss Manuel Pretzl.
“I am horrified that the federal government is putting the brakes on funding so hard.” The financing of the heating transition is now in jeopardy - and with it the achievement of Germany's climate goals.
“The traffic light government is filling its leaky budget at the expense of the climate.
That is irresponsible.
We urgently want to know what consequences this wrong policy has for our region.”
CSU city councilor Beatrix Burkhardt: “It would be a catastrophe if the funding stop slowed down the project”
The first work on the municipal utility's seventh geothermal plant is currently underway in the southeast of Munich, says CSU city councilor Beatrix Burkhardt.
“The system on the Michaelibad site is expected to produce heat for around 75,000 people from 2029.
It would be a catastrophe if the funding stop slowed down this already well-advanced project.”