Vienna: Discovery of long-awaited geothermal heat source!

Vienna: Discovery of long-awaited geothermal heat source!

Vienna, a city with a rich history, can now also look forward to a pioneering discovery. A geothermal water source lies beneath the city's streets and has the potential to sustainably revolutionize Vienna's heat supply. A look back into the past shows that Vienna was covered by a tropical sea 20 to 14 million years ago, which explains today's geothermal resources. According to authors Mathias Harzhauser and Thomas Hofmann in their book “Wien am Sand,” many of these maritime deposits date back to a time when giant oyster reefs and even manatees lived here. Many of these remains can be found in buildings such as the Natural History and Art History Museums, where Atzgersdorf stone, rich in snail fossils, was used as building material.

The recent discovery of the new hot water spring under the city area, named Aderklaa, is no coincidence. How themayer.eu reports, this discovery is the result of years of studies focused on sustainable geothermal energy alternatives. After the last exploratory drilling has been completed, an investigation into the geological and chemical composition of the water will be carried out in order to make optimal use of the deposit.

Geothermal energy as the key to climate change

What does this mean for the city and its citizens? Geothermal energy is an important component in the heat transition and plays a key role in curbing climate change, especially for Vienna. A transdisciplinary project investigating the use of deep geothermal energy for the city aims to safely feed these resources into Vienna's extensive district heating network. This initiative is supported by the experts from the Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG). Maria-Theresia Apolner, seismologist at ZAMG, will soon present the results of this project in a public lecture oeaw.ac.at informed.

It is estimated that the Aderklaa deposit holds water at almost 100 degrees Celsius and could provide around 120 megawatts of thermal power. Wien Energie plans to supply around 125,000 households with heat from this geothermal source by 2030. These measures are necessary to meet the climate targets, according to which 56% of the city must be supplied by district heating by 2040. The rest of the heating supply will be provided by highly efficient heat pumps.

From the abundance of water and fossils

The underwater landscape of this region reveals not only geothermal resources but also traces of a vibrant maritime past. Remains of fossils, including the impressive mammoth bones, are repeatedly discovered in the streets and buildings of Vienna. These discoveries are not only of natural historical interest, but also illustrate the legacy that Vienna has from its unique geological past.

Through this novel mix of historical significance and state-of-the-art technology, Vienna shows once again that the city is not only looking to the future, but also to the past. This discovery is not only a win for the energy supply strategy, but also a fascinating chapter in the history of this large city.