Exploration drilling and surface surveys start for geothermal project in Lower Austria
Neulengbach Castle in Lower Austria (source: Uoaei1, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Carlo Cariaga
26 Mar 2026
Exploration work has started for the deep geothermal research project in Lower Austria, with a seismic campaign and research drilling being done simultaneously.
Exploration drilling and seismic data acquisition are being done simultaneously as part of the exploration campaign for deep geothermal resources in the state of Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) in Austria. As stated by local power company EVN, the goal is to connect two deep geothermal plants to the district heating network by 2035.
First announced in October 2025, the deep geothermal research project in Lower Austria is a partnership between the state and EVN. The partners stated that they will be investing nearly EUR 100 million into the project by 2030, which is when the first geothermal plant is expected to be operational.
Working with the University of Vienna, EVN has already started seismic measurements across an area of about 220 square kilometers, encompassing Achau (Mödling district) to Schwechat (Bruck an der Leitha district). Approximately 240 geophones have been deployed for this study, which will measure the Earth’s natural seismic background noise to help create model of the subsurface layers in the study area.
At the same time, exploratory drilling to a depth of 70 meters is being done at the Sooßer Lindkogel in Bad Vöslau (Baden district).
Deputy Governor Stephan Pernkopf recalled that Lower Austria we almost entirely dependent on energy imports around 20 years ago. Today, the state is now the green energy powerhouse of Austria. Renewable energy now supplies 63% of all space heating and about 75% of district heating. According to Pernkopf, the next step is deep geothermal energy.
“No other Austrian state has such great potential. Lower Austria can thus become a role model for Austria,” concluded Pernkopf.
Source: ORF.at and TiefeGeothermie
