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Renewable heat for households and communities

For an energy transition that leaves no one in the cold.

At OMV, we see geothermal energy as an important source of renewable heat. By tapping into the Earth’s heat, we can provide warmth for homes and communities from a local energy source that’s available around the clock.

We're combining proven methods with new technologies to unlock the full potential of geothermal energy and make it a key part of tomorrow’s energy mix. 

How geothermal energy works

Deep beneath our feet, the earth holds a steady supply of heat. Typically, temperatures rise by about 25–30°C per kilometer. However, this can vary significantly depending on geological settings. Drilling thousands of meters is often required to reach the heat needed - often over 100°C.

In hydrothermal systems, hot formation water is pumped to the surface. Its heat is captured using heat exchangers and transferred into the district heating network. The cooled water is reinjected into the reservoir where it is reheated by the surrounding rocks. If the water is hotter than 140°C, it can even be used to generate power. 

In places without natural hydrothermal resources, closed-loop systems offer another solution. These use a special fluid that circulates through sealed pipes, absorbing heat from deep rock layers. It’s a flexible, scalable way to bring clean energy to more communities.


Our projects

The “deeep” joint venture: OMV and Wien Energie join forces to bring renewable district heating to Vienna

Wien Energie is responsible for the surface facilities, including heat exchangers, heat pumps, and transferring heat into the district heating network, while OMV is responsible for subsurface activities, including drilling operations and hot water extraction. 

Project Aspern: Harnessing Vienna’s geothermal potential

The first project of our “deeep” joint venture is a geothermal plant in Aspern in Vienna’s 22nd district. The plant will have a capacity of 25 MW in combination with heat pumps. This is enough to supply around 25,000 households. Drilling of three wells was successfully finished in 2025, with commissioning scheduled for 2028. 

Project Tiefenkraft 

OMV and Energie Steiermark are working together to assess the potential for deep geothermal energy in Styria. Under the Tiefenkraft project, OMV GeoTherm Graz GmbH is evaluating whether geothermal heat could be developed for use in the greater Graz area. OMV GeoTherm Graz GmbH is a joint venture between OMV (75%) and Energie Steiermark (25%). 

Strategic partnership with Eavor Technologies Inc.

We have a 6.5% stake in Eavor Technologies Inc., a leading developer of closed-loop geothermal solutions. Their technology uses a network of sealed underground loops through which a fluid circulates to capture heat from deep rock formations. Because it does not require natural underground water resources, this approach makes geothermal energy possible in areas where conventional systems are not viable. We aim to deploy this technology in Germany in order to support the country’s heating transition.

Geothermal energy | Environmentally Friendly Energy | OMV.com