Baden-Württemberg pushes climate-neutral targets with municipal grants and geothermal plant

Four municipalities in Baden-Württemberg—Freiburg im Breisgau, Ludwigsburg, the Landkreis Calw and Denzlingen—aim to achieve climate‑neutral status by 2035. They are part of the state‑funded programme “Auf dem Weg zur Klimaneutralität bis 2035,” receiving up to €11.5 million in support coordinated by the KEA‑BW agency. Measures include photovoltaic installations, heat‑pump bundles, renovation sprints, private‑wall‑box concepts and temporary pedestrian zones, with the project running until February 2027.

Energy supplier Badenova and drilling specialist Herrenknecht have formed a joint venture to develop a deep‑geothermal heating plant near Hartheim (A5). The Landesamt für Geologie approved the main operating plan, clearing the way for drilling and construction of a heating plant that will draw hot water from a 3,200‑metre‑deep reservoir. The partners will invest roughly €60 million to supply sustainable heat to about 20,000 households in the Freiburg region, with preparatory work starting autumn 2026 and drilling slated for the second half of 2027.