Daldrup & Söhne specialises in planning and conducting geothermal drillings, and the first step of the JV will be to develop RWE Innogy’s existing deep geothermal drilling areas – for which permits have already been obtained – and to apply for further permits. The JV is subject to approval by German antitrust authorities.
RWE Innogy already has permits for two deep geothermal projects from the Munich mining authorities – in Wildpoldsried and Unterthingau in the Swabian rural district of Oberallgäu in south-west Germany. Geologically, this region belongs to the Bavarian Molasse Basin, an area which is said to be ideal for the exploitation of geothermal energy.
Over the next three years investigations will be carried out into the geothermal potential of this area which covers some 100 km2. Once the data has been analysed, RWE Innogy and Daldrup & Söhne plan to drill down to depths of up to 4 km.