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 ...
Germany’s Geothermal Breakthrough: AFK Launches Game-Changing Deep Drilling in Munich’s East – 2026’s Biggest Heat Revolution
Geothermal Energy in 2026: Germany's AFK Geothermie Launches Major Deep Drilling Expansion East of Munich , A Blueprint for Reliable Renewable Heat By: Robert Buluma Imagine a quiet industrial site near Munich's eastern suburbs suddenly dominated by a towering 40-meter drilling rig in 2026. Beneath the surface lies a vast reservoir of hot water at around 90°C, ready to deliver clean, baseload heat to thousands more homes and businesses. This is the reality unfolding at AFK Geothermie GmbH in Aschheim, where Germany's first inter-municipal geothermal project is gearing up for a transformative second deep drilling campaign. As Europe pushes for energy independence and net-zero heating, this Bavarian initiative stands out as a practical model: community-owned, resilient, and increasingly fossil-fuel-free. The Pioneering Roots of AFK Geothermie Founded in 2008 by the neighboring municipalities of Aschheim, Kirchheim, and Feldkirchen, AFK Geothermie was a trailblazer the first ...