Description

The Styrian Basin is one of Austria’s most promising areas considering its potential for geothermal energy utilization. Nevertheless, apart from spas, the number of successful operations is limited. The field trip will offer the unique opportunity to visit the facilities of Frutura, an organic vegetable producer that meets the highest standards of sustainability and regionality. The key to Frutura’s success is its energy autonomy, which is secured by a geothermal doublet producing hot water from Paleozoic carbonates. On site, the regional geology as well as details about the geothermal reservoir and the well design will be introduced, followed by a guided tour to the greenhouses and the geothermal site. After a lunch break, outcrops of Plio-/Pleistocene volcanic rocks will be visited. This young volcanism indicates a strong crustal extension, which results in an elevated geothermal gradient in the Styrian Basin.