In a small town outside of Munich, a major investment in a pioneering new type of geothermal energy looks like it may pay off sooner than expected.

With oil prices on the rise, Unterhaching’s plant could be a model for others worldwide.

The geothermal energy plant in Unterhaching, Bavaria, is Germany’s biggest and most modern. Beginning in mid-June — one year later than planned — the plant will begin supplying power from deep within the Earth’s crust to the German energy network.

The plant is only the second in the world to make use of the so-called Kalina system, which uses a combination of water and ammonia to maximize the amount of power generated by the massive turbines. “This is the most effective way to get electricity out of geothermal energy,” says Reinhard Galbas, the plant’s technical manager.
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