Daimler Truck, EnBW and the City of Wörth am Rhein, in south-western Germany have set up a joint venture for geothermal energy production.
The joint venture is intended to investigate the possibilities of a climate-neutral energy supply for the Mercedes-Benz plant in Wörth and the City of Wörth am Rhein.
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The aim is to determine the geothermal usability and, if positive, to build and operate a geothermal plant to generate heat at the Wörth site. The excess geothermal heat is to be used to supply existing municipal local heating networks in the City of Wörth am Rhein. There are currently no plans to generate electricity. The scientifically supervised project is also intended to provide new insights into the development of geothermal energy as an energy source.
The three partners bring together Daimler Truck, the largest employer in the southern Palatinate, EnBW, a leading energy company in Germany with many years of expertise in geothermal energy, and the City of Wörth am Rhein, a municipality with an innovative city administration that stands for public services.
Stefan Ertle, asset manager for district heating in EnBW‘s generation division, and Thomas Neckenich, responsible for energy supply and green production at Daimler Truck’s Wörth site, were appointed as managing directors of WärmeWerk Wörth GmbH.
Currently there are no plans to generate energy, and the project will be scientifically supervised.
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By GlobalDataDeep geothermal energy is of particular importance in the search for environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional energy generation. The geology of the Upper Rhine Plain, where the City of Wörth am Rhein is located, promises ‘good conditions for the sustainable extraction of geothermal heat’.
Thomas Neckenich said: “Heat generation through geothermal energy offers us the opportunity, as a production site, to use a virtually CO2-free energy source in the direct vicinity for sustainable production. Our two partners bring with them the relevant expertise in geothermal heat and energy supply. For the general public and our employees, education and transparency over the entire course of the process is the top priority.”
Stefan Ertle added: “We have been involved in the development and use of deep geothermal energy for around 20 years. The geological conditions for this are particularly good here in the Upper Rhine region. That’s why we’re all the more pleased with the plan to work with Daimler Truck and the City of Wörth to create an environmentally friendly heat supply for both the truck production site and the local people.”
