The drilling has already begun: An ultramodern geothermal plant is to be constructed in Pér, close to the Audi Hungaria factory in Győr. After going into operation in just over a year, it will supply the company with at least 82,000 megawatt hours of geothermal energy per annum and will cover about 6 percent of total heat requirements.
“Energy-efficient products and conservation of resources in production processes have top priority within Audi’s environmental protection,” stated Dr. Hubert Waltl, Board of Management Member for Production at AUDI AG. “By focusing our attention of the use of raw materials and energy, we are moving step by step along a path to developing a CO2‑neutral production plant. The mobility of the future must be CO2‑neutral – and that applies not only to the use of our vehicles, but also to their production.”
Audi Hungaria utilizes a wide range of the latest technologies for the required efficiency and for lower CO2 emissions in production. “The geothermal plant is now another important milestone on the way to achieving our environmental targets at the site in Győr,” pointed out Thomas Faustmann, Chief Executive of AUDI HUNGARIA MOTOR Kft.“ We are already one of the most energy-efficient companies in the region of eastern‑central Europe.”
For the new project, AUDI HUNGARIA MOTOR Kft. has signed a long-term contract on the supply of heat energy with the Hungarian company “DDEnergy.” With the plant, the company will obtain approximately 82,000 megawatt‑hours of geothermal energy each year, and will be able to cover about 60 percent of its total heat requirement with a neutral CO2 effect. In addition, Audi Hungaria will reduce its annual CO2 emissions by a further 19,800 tons.
The planned depth of the well is approximately 2,400 meters, which will require a drilling period of up to two months. After that, it will be possible to obtain hot water with a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius, which will be pumped into the heating system.
The drilling in Pér marks the starting point of the “Győr Geothermal Project,” with which geothermal resources are to be utilized for the region’s entire industrial energy supply. The project includes not only the drilling required wells, but also the development of a complete geothermal heating system.
