Geothermal energy – SPD for geothermal energy project at the thermal power station – District of Munich
Due to the considerations of the Stadtwerke München (SWM) to convert the coal block of the thermal power station Munich-Nord on Unterföhringer Flur to gas as soon as possible, the SPD parliamentary group will reach a public discussion on the further in the limited municipal council. Specifically, she suggests a joint geothermal project with the Münchner Stadtwerke. There are positive signals from there. “We are practically open to cooperation in renewable energies in the region,” says SWM press spokesman Michael Silva. This already exists in the south of Munich.
“It clearly shows that the SWM are willing to compromise and want to go a common path with us,” parliamentary group spokesman Philipp Schwarz in a request directed at Mayor Andreas Kemmelmeyer (party-free electorate), so Schwarz, the local politician in the outskirts of town was clearly no to the construction of a gas and steam turbine power plant (CCGT) as a replacement for the coal block, which the municipal utilities are considering, “was good and has already borne fruit”. Unterföhring has vehemently defended itself against this project and has reconsidered its planning sovereignty on its own property. In 2020, the municipal council decided on a development plan for the premises of the thermal power station and the adjacent areas, according to which only systems for energy generation that do not burn fossil fuels and are also regenerative will be approved at the site.
Switching the coal block to gas contradicts these goals, but according to Schwarz, Unterföhring should now “pick up the ball and continue to build on it”. According to him, in the not too distant future, for example, this could lead to a joint geothermal project by the Munich energy supplier and the Unterföhring municipality at the location of the heating power plant, since the Freimann claim would have to be developed via the Unterföhring area. After all, Unterföhring and its successful Geovol stand for geothermal energy more than any other municipality in the region, emphasizes Schwarz. And: “Who, if not us, should take the first step towards a joint project with the public utility company?” He asks. For Schwarz it is therefore only logical that the Stadtwerke should present their concept for the coal block to the Unterföhringen local politicians and the population as quickly as possible in a public meeting, as stated in his request to the mayor, administration and municipal council. The plans for converting the plant to gas will also be checked and assessed by the municipality’s internal lawyers.
Mayor Kemmelmeyer is slowing down the euphoria of Schwarz, but according to his own statements, he does not want to shut himself off from a possible cooperation in the geothermal projects of the municipality and municipal utilities in Munich. “We are always ready to work together when it comes to renewable energies,” assures the town hall chief. Common ideas could be developed at any time if they were beneficial for Unterföhring. As far as geothermal energy is concerned, the experts at the municipal Geovol have to examine it in terms of technical feasibility and economic efficiency.
Meanwhile, the Unterföhringen action alliance “Get out of the coal” are dying of doubts that a changeover can be carried out without any problems. Who should believe that gas firing of the 30-year-old coal boiler in the northern heating plant could be possible without major modifications or a new boiler system, asks Wolfgang Stubenrauch, spokesman for the action alliance. “Was the TÜV wrong at the time or is the SWM just staging another confusion, especially in relation to the Unterföhring community?” Stubenrauch sent an email to his colleagues.