Mijnwater starts drilling for new heat source on Terhoevenderweg in Heerlen New source expands Parkstad’s district heating and cooling network Mijnwater has started drilling work for a new heat source at Terhoevenderweg in Heerlen, marking another important step in the expansion of its sustainable heating and cooling network in Parkstad. After a period of preparation, work began this week and is expected to continue for three to four weeks. Because the operation must be completed safely and efficiently, the drilling is taking place 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The project is part of Mijnwater’s broader effort to strengthen a low-carbon energy system for the region. The new source will tap warm groundwater in a former mine passage deep underground and feed that energy into the company’s network. For Heerlen and the surrounding area, this means further development of a district energy system that draws value from the region’s mining past while supporting a more sustainable energy ...
Herrenknecht AG Wins 2026 European Geothermal Innovation Award with Groundbreaking Urban Vibro Truck
Congratulations to HERRENKNECHT AG – The 2026 EGIA Award Winner!
By: Robert Buluma
Herrenknecht AG has been named the winner of the 2026 European Geothermal Innovation Award (EGIA), also known as the Ruggero Bertani European Geothermal Innovation Award. The award was presented by the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) during a special ceremony at the GeoTHERM Congress & Expo in Offenburg, Germany, on February 26, 2026.
The EGIA recognizes companies making exceptional contributions to the advancement of geothermal energy in Europe through innovative products, scientific research, or project initiatives. Entries are evaluated based on originality, innovation, reliability, emission reductions, and improvements in energy output. This year, EGEC received 16 strong applications, making the selection process highly competitive. A jury of eight experts carefully reviewed the submissions and selected five finalists before crowning Herrenknecht AG as the winner.
EGEC President Miklos Antics commented on the quality of the field: “The Ruggero Bertani European Geothermal Innovation Award is given to companies which have made an outstanding contribution towards the field of geothermal energy in the form of innovative products, scientific research or project initiatives. This year, EGEC received 16 applications, and the jury of eight people, to whom I would like to give my special thanks, had a very difficult job selecting the five finalists.”
Herrenknecht AG earned the award for its Urban Vibro Truck, a purpose-built mobile seismic survey vehicle designed specifically for use in urban and densely populated areas. Conventional seismic survey equipment, often borrowed from oil and gas applications, tends to produce high noise levels, faces restrictive permitting in cities, and can disturb residents—factors that have historically limited geothermal exploration where it is most needed: beneath urban centers with high heat demand.
The Urban Vibro Truck addresses these challenges head-on. It features dramatically reduced noise emissions, allowing seismic surveys to take place during nighttime hours with minimal disruption to local communities. The vehicle is approved for EU road use as a tractor, which simplifies permitting processes for urban seismic operations.
Daniel Jaskulski, Division Manager at Herrenknecht AG, expressed the company’s pride in the achievement: “Winning this prestigious award is an excellent opportunity for us to showcase the benefits and the added value that we can offer with the Urban Vibro Truck. We didn’t just build a nice vehicle that looks good; we have built a very functional vehicle which can make a real difference for the geothermal sector because now we can conduct seismic surveys much faster and also with better quality, and this is the most important thing. We already have one truck that can carry out surveys in towns and cities, and our goal is to have 10 of our Urban Vibro Trucks on the market by the end of 2026!”
The first Urban Vibro Truck was developed as a scientific test vehicle with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. It has already completed its initial seismic survey campaign, during which it was benchmarked against established market devices and produced comparable high-quality data. Based on lessons from that deployment, the team implemented further improvements that have enhanced the accuracy and reliability of the seismic results.
By enabling faster, higher-quality subsurface imaging in cities, the Urban Vibro Truck removes a key bottleneck in urban geothermal development. Accurate mapping of underground structures is critical for identifying viable geothermal resources, reducing exploration risks, and accelerating project timelines. This innovation supports Europe’s broader goals of expanding sustainable, low-carbon heating and cooling solutions in populated areas, helping to decrease dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Herrenknecht AG, long recognized as a global leader in mechanized tunneling and underground engineering, has successfully applied its deep expertise to the geothermal sector. The Urban Vibro Truck represents a powerful example of cross-industry innovation driving progress in renewables.
EGEC congratulated Herrenknecht on this milestone achievement and expressed confidence that the Urban Vibro Truck will play a meaningful role in increasing the deployment of geothermal energy in urban environments. The organization also thanked all applicants for contributing to such a competitive and inspiring awards cycle.
The 2026 finalists demonstrated the diversity and strength of innovation across the geothermal industry:
- OLI Systems (UK) – Geothermal Asset Integrity Modelling
- Deutsche Erdwärme GmbH (Germany) – Advanced Injection Testing and Stimulation
- Hephae Energy Technology (UK) – Ultra-High Temperature Measurement-While-Drilling for Next-Generation Geothermal
- QHeat (Finland) – Unlocking Scalable Geothermal in Crystalline Rock Through Cost-Efficient and Collaborative Drilling
The Ruggero Bertani European Geothermal Innovation Award, a collaboration between EGEC and Messe Offenburg (organizers of the GeoTHERM event), celebrates excellence and helps bring promising geothermal technologies to wider attention. It serves as both recognition and motivation for continued advancement in the sector.
Herrenknecht’s victory highlights a promising path forward for urban geothermal energy. With plans to scale production and deploy a fleet of ten Urban Vibro Trucks by the end of 2026, the company is positioned to help unlock geothermal resources in cities across Europe more quickly and effectively. This breakthrough not only honors Herrenknecht AG but also strengthens the momentum toward a cleaner, more localized energy future.
Congratulations once again to Herrenknecht AG—the 2026 EGIA winner—for delivering an innovation that brings geothermal energy closer to the places where it is needed most.
Source: Email Correspondence
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