Frutura to operate 18-Hectare geothermal greenhouse in Eastern Styria

AUSTRIA – Frutura, Austria’s leading company in sustainable fruit and vegetable production, has been chosen to operate an 18-hectare geothermally heated greenhouse facility in Neudau-Burgau, eastern Styria.

The first crops are expected to reach the market in the first half of 2027.

The operator search ended with DOL Group GmbH, the parent company of Frutura Obst & Gemüse Kompetenzzentrum GmbH.

Known for its expertise in greenhouse management and renewable energy integration, the group will lease the entire facility and begin operations once construction is complete.

“We are delighted to be able to implement this important future-oriented project together. The use of geothermal energy as an ideal energy source ensures that our environment and the available resources are protected. In this way, sustainable food production and economic development go hand in hand in the best possible way,” said Manfred Hohensinner and Katrin Hohensinner-Häupl, managing directors of the DOL Group.

The 92-million-euro investment is a joint effort between project initiator Alexander Kottulinsky of Kotax Farm & Forestry and the Supernova Group.

Kottulinsky, who owns the land, previously worked with Supernova on the Neudau photovoltaic park, one of Austria’s largest solar energy sites. DOL Group is also a shareholder in the greenhouse project.

The project will roll out in two phases. The first stage covers 10 hectares, scheduled for completion in early 2027, while the second phase will add 8 hectares by 2028.

Crops will be grown year-round using heat drawn from geothermal boreholes drilled up to 2,900 meters deep. By relying on renewable energy, the facility aims to reduce import dependence and strengthen Austria’s domestic food supply.

The project traces its roots back to a study on geothermal energy potential carried out three years ago by Neudau Mayor Wolfgang Dolesch and Regional Development East Styria.

Burgau Mayor Gregor Löffler quickly joined the initiative to ensure collaboration between the two municipalities, since the geothermal resource straddles their borders.

“This project shows what is possible when municipalities, business, and agriculture pull together. It is a great opportunity for our region both ecologically and economically and will create up to 250 new jobs when fully developed,” Dolesch and Löffler said in a joint statement.

Alongside job creation, the mayors expect the development to attract new residents, while also providing geothermal energy to Neudau, Burgau, and potentially Stegersbach.

RED Drilling, a leading company in geothermal projects, will oversee drilling and energy systems, with all plans approved by federal and state authorities.

The greenhouse project will be carried out outside the main consolidation scope of Supernova Invest GmbH.

At the same time, Supernova and regional partners continue advancing renewable energy infrastructure, building on the success of the Neudau photovoltaic park.

With Frutura now secured as operator, the Neudau-Burgau facility marks a major step forward for sustainable agriculture and regional energy solutions in Austria.

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