More information on the tender is available on the official guide document (in German).
The funding program is aimed at the use of deep geothermal energy to supply district heating and cooling networks, renewable electricity generation, and the increased use of deep geothermal energy in industrial processes. The objective of the funding program is to reduce the risk of discovery in development drilling and make deep geothermal energy projects more investment-ready.
As part of the funding program, comprehensive studies are supported that include technical and economic feasibility and the site-specific deep geothermal usage options based on exploration and investigation measures for open and closed geothermal systems. Projects with a depth of more than 300 meters and a planned installed minimum thermal output of 1 MW are supported. Funding will be awarded in the form of a non-repayable grant that is paid out after the project accounting.
The total funding amount is divided into five thematic modules:
MODULE 1 – Basic preliminary studies (EUR 150,000)
MODULE 2 – Feasibility studies (EUR 850,000)
MODULE 3 – Exploration (EUR 3 million)
MODULE 4 – Pilot drilling (EUR 6 million)
MODULE 5 – Citizen and public participation and information events
“Although geothermal energy is a well-known energy source, it is currently still used to a limited extent. Its development is an essential lever for a successful heat transition and, as a regional renewable energy source, geothermal energy will play an important role in Austria’s future energy supply,” stated Bernd Vogl, Managing Director of the Climate and Energy Fund.
There are currently several efforts underway to develop geothermal projects in Austria. In 2023, Vienna local utility Wien Energie formed a partnership with oil and gas company OMV to advance deep geothermal utilization in the greater Vienna area. More recently, work has begun on the renovation of the Ernst Happel stadium, also in Vienna, which integrates a geothermal and photovoltaic system.
