GEMO provides updates on 2026 geothermal drilling plan in Vaterstetten, Germany
Baldham in Vaterstetten, Bavaria, Germany (source: Christian Scheja / flickr, Creative Commons)
Carlo Cariaga
1 Dec 2025
After some delays due to a longer tendering process, drilling for a geothermal heat project in Vaterstetten, Germany is expected to start by autumn 2026.
Geo Energie München Ost (GEMO) has announced that construction of the drilling site in Vaterstetten in Germany is set to commence by spring 2026, and the start of drilling is expected by the following autumn. Drilling of a doublet is planned, but groundwork will be laid for a total of four drilling cellars.
Founded in December 2023, GEMO is a joint development company of the municipalities of Vaterstetten, Grasbrunn, Haar, and Zorneding. The company is expecting the first geothermal heat supply by 2028.
An earlier update stated that the company was targeting the start of drilling by spring 2026. The delay was explained by the tendering process taking ten months instead of the expected six months. As GEMO Managing Director Tobias Aschwer explained, the specifications of the tender had to be revised following initial discussions with suppliers. The main operating plan also had to be prepared, which regulates aspects such as the setup of the drilling site, safety procedures, water protection, and the technical equipment for hot water extraction.
Aschwer further explains that the decision to prepare four drilling cellars will not have a major impact on the site, but will later help control the output of the geothermal plant according to customer demand.
A report presented in 2023 states that the possible geothermal reservoir in the area hosts water at 95 °C and a potential thermal output of 21 MWth. This will be enough to supply the district heating networks of all four municipalities.
Source: Tiefe Geothermie
