What BauGrund South does

BauGrund Süd is a German integrated drilling and geotechnical services company headquartered in Bad Wurzach, Baden-Württemberg, founded in 1997 and operating since 2009 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Weishaupt-Gruppe energy conglomerate. The firm delivers subsurface solutions spanning geothermal energy systems (Erdwärmesonden, Kalte Nahwärmenetze/cold district heating), well construction (Brunnenbau), ground investigation (Baugrunderkundung), combat ordnance detection, soil remediation, dewatering, radon assessment, building demolition, and water extraction. Its primary customers are property developers and housing cooperatives, construction firms and public-sector infrastructure clients (municipal authorities, transmission grid operators such as Amprion, state governments), renewable energy project developers (solar PV mounting soil reports), and industrial and tourism operators across Germany, with recent expansion into western Austria.

The technical platform is anchored by a fleet of 46 drilling rigs operated from a 61,737 sqm headquarters campus, supplemented by proprietary technology including the geoplus® Turbosonde ground heat exchanger and an in-house testing laboratory accredited by DAkkS per DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018. Field investigation methods include Rammsondierung, Drucksondierung (CPT), Thermal Response Test (TRT), Seilkernbohrung, and on-site drilling-fluid recycling via a mobile Separationsanlage. The firm holds DVGW W 120-1, W 120-2, and GW 301 certifications, VOB pre-qualification across four drilling-related categories, and WHG specialist-company status — collectively gating access to most public tenders.

Revenue is generated predominantly through project-based professional-services contracts, awarded via competitive tendering for public-sector infrastructure and via direct enterprise sales for private developers and industrial clients. Pricing is project-specific (no public list), with contract values ranging from single-well residential jobs to multi-year, multi-segment infrastructure engagements such as the Amprion HGÜ-Trasse Korridor B (900+ exploration points across a 100+ km corridor). The firm employs 426 people across German offices in Bad Wurzach, Munich, Augsburg, Schkeuditz, Hatzfeld, Schieder-Schwalenberg, and Bad Schönborn, plus a newly opened Austrian branch in Imst, and reported revenue of €85 million for fiscal year 2024.

Name

BauGrund South

Legal name

BauGrund Süd Gesellschaft für Geothermie mbH

Website

https://baugrundsued.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BauGrund Süd is a German integrated drilling and geotechnical services company that delivers geothermal energy systems, groundwater wells, soil investigation, and subsurface infrastructure for property developers, public-sector clients, and renewable energy developers across Germany and Austria.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bad Wurzach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Geotechnical and drilling project services: BauGrund Süd generates the majority of revenue through large-scale, project-based geotechnical and drilling contracts. Services include Erdwärmesonden (ground heat exchanger drilling), Brunnenbau (well construction), Baugrunderkundung (ground exploration), Kampfmittelerkundung (UXO detection), Wasserhaltung (dewatering), and Kalte Nahwärmenetze (cold district heating networks). Projects range from residential single-well installations to multi-year infrastructure contracts such as the HGÜ-Trasse Korridor B (over 900 exploration points, ~100 km corridor). Revenue is earned as one-time project fees with total contract responsibility for planning and execution.
2. Geotechnical consulting and laboratory testing: The company provides engineering analysis, geotechnical reports, foundation recommendations, and soil remediation concepts. DAkkS-accredited laboratory testing (soil mechanics, hydraulic conductivity, steel/beton aggressivity) is offered as a standalone or bundled service. Revenue is derived from consulting fees and per-test laboratory charges.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BauGrund Süd is a full-service geotechnical and drilling company that plans, drills, and operates subsurface infrastructure for geothermal energy, water supply, and ground investigation. Its core offerings include ground heat exchangers (Erdwärmesonden/Brunnen), geothermal district heating networks, well construction, and geotechnical site investigation, delivered as integrated turnkey projects from planning through certified laboratory testing to execution. The company serves property developers, public infrastructure clients, energy utilities, and industrial customers across the DACH region.

Product overview

BauGrund Süd operates as a full-service geotechnical and geothermal company offering integrated solutions from a single source. The core portfolio centers on geothermal energy systems (Erdwärme) including ground probes (Erdsonden), well drilling (Brunnenbau), and district heating networks (Kalte Nahwärmenetze), complemented by comprehensive construction soil investigation services (Baugrunderkundung), geotechnical engineering, and specialized services such as munitions clearance, soil remediation, water management, and radon assessment. The company also offers proprietary branded products including geoplus® ground probes and Geoblock® heat pumps. All services are delivered through an integrated approach from planning through execution, supported by a DAkkS-accredited in-house testing laboratory.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Energiekonzepte (Energy Concepts) Comprehensive energy consulting and implementation service for transitioning customers to sustainable heating solutions, from initial consultation through full project execution. Designed for property developers, municipalities, and industrial customers planning heat pump and geothermal heating rollouts.
• Erdwärme (Geothermal Services) Full-cycle shallow geothermal services including planning, drilling, and installation of ground-source heat pump systems for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Delivered as an integrated package covering site assessment, permits, drilling, and commissioning.
• Erdsonden (Ground Probes / Heat Exchangers) Vertical ground heat exchangers drilled up to 400 meters deep to harvest geothermal energy for building heating and cooling. Installed using BauGrund Süd's drilling fleet and proprietary geoplus® Turbosonde system for efficient subsurface heat exchange.
• Brunnenbau (Well Drilling) DVGW W 120-1-certified well construction services for water extraction and groundwater heat pump systems, covering drinking water wells, industrial water supply wells, and groundwater wells. Includes planning, drilling, pump installation, regeneration, and well decommissioning.
• Erdwärmenetze (Geothermal District Heating Networks) District heating networks using geothermal energy, including cold district heating networks (Kalte Nahwärmenetze) operating below 15°C for efficient community energy supply. Includes pipeline construction (DVGW GW 301) and integration with heat pump systems.
• Baugrunderkundung (Soil/Ground Investigation) Comprehensive ground investigation services including drilling, sampling, ram sounding (Rammsondierung), pressure sounding (CPT/Drucksondierung), and geotechnical reporting. The company's foundational competency since 1997, serving construction, civil engineering, and public infrastructure clients.
• Baugrundgutachten PV (Soil Reports for Photovoltaic Systems) Specialized expert soil analysis for photovoltaic ground-mounted systems, determining optimal embedment depth for metal profile mounting structures. Balances structural stability, safety, and cost efficiency for solar park developers.
• Geotechnik (Geotechnical Engineering) Geotechnical engineering services including foundation analysis, risk assessment, and expert consultation for construction projects. Delivered as standalone consulting or bundled with Baugrunderkundung drilling services.
• Kampfmittelerkundung (Munitions/UXO Detection) Explosive ordnance detection and clearance services using magnetometry and deep sounding to identify potential unexploded ordnance before construction begins. Used for pre-construction site safety assessment in Germany.
• Bodensanierung (Soil Remediation) Soil remediation and decontamination services addressing contaminated sites according to German Federal Soil Protection Act (BBodSchG) requirements. Includes site assessment, remediation concept development, and execution.
• Wasserhaltung (Construction Dewatering / Water Management) Temporary groundwater lowering and water management solutions during construction projects, including well systems, drainage infrastructure, and pump installation. Performed under WHG specialist company certification.
• Radonermittlung (Radon Assessment) Radon gas measurement and assessment services to evaluate health risks and implement protective measures in buildings. Used to support building permitting and indoor air quality compliance.
• geoplus®-Erdwärmesonden (Proprietary Ground Probes) Proprietary turbo ground heat exchanger product brand manufactured and installed by BauGrund Süd for efficient geothermal energy harvesting. Designed for higher performance and faster installation in boreholes.
• Geoblock® Wärmepumpe (Proprietary Heat Pump) Proprietary heat pump system designed for outdoor installation, part of the geothermal energy solution portfolio. Marketed under the Geoblock® brand.
• DAkkS-Prüflabor (Accredited Testing Laboratory) DAkkS-accredited geotechnical testing laboratory performing soil mechanical and physical property analysis, hydraulic conductivity testing, and steel/beton aggressivity analysis. Provides verifiable quality-assured test results as a standalone or bundled service.
• Projektierung (Geothermal Project Planning) Comprehensive geothermal project planning including site assessment, Thermal Response Testing, system dimensioning, permitting, and BIM-based execution planning. Sold as standalone engineering or bundled with drilling execution.

Quantifiable outcome

• Completed 4,400,000 drilling meters and 32,000 projects since founding in 1997.
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GHB Starnberg (Geotechnik H. Bimmerle GmbH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Acquisition of GHB Starnberg, a geotechnical consulting and planning firm, to strengthen BauGrund Süd's geotechnical capabilities and market position. The integration adds specialized engineering expertise and additional capacity for complex geotechnical projects in Bavaria.
• GrundfosminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBauGrund Süd operates as a certified Grundfos Service Partner, providing installation and service for Grundfos pumping systems in water well and groundwater applications.
• GETEC GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with GETEC WÄRME & EFFIZIENZ GmbH for the planning and execution of the Bayreuth 'joseph' cold district heating network project — one of Bavaria's largest geothermal heating projects. GETEC specializes in decarbonized energy and infrastructure solutions for urban districts.
• Amprion GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmprion, one of Germany's four transmission grid operators, commissioned BauGrund Süd for the largest project in company history: geotechnical exploration of the HGÜ-Trasse Korridor B high-voltage DC transmission cable corridor (100+ km in North Rhine-Westphalia).
• Alois Müller-FirmengruppeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the GreenTech Hub Memmingen project at Allgäu Airport, where BauGrund Süd provided geothermal and geotechnical services for an innovative sustainable office campus featuring thermally activated foundation piles.
• Bundesverband Wärmepumpe (bwp)minorOthersIndustry association membership in the German Heat Pump Association.
• Bundesverband GeothermieminorOthersIndustry association membership in the German Geothermal Association.
• Bundesverband BodenminorOthersIndustry association membership in the German Soil Association.
• Erdwärme Gemeinschaft Bayern eGminorOthersIndustry association membership in the Bavarian Geothermal Energy Community.
• renergie Allgäu eGminorOthersRegional renewable energy association based in the Allgäu region.
• eza! (Energie- und Umweltzentrum Allgäu)minorOthersPartner membership in the Energy and Environment Center Allgäu.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stump-Franki Spezialtiefbau GmbH: German specialty foundation contractor (part of Bauer AG) that delivers piling, ground improvement, and geotechnical works for infrastructure projects. Direct competitor on large public infrastructure tenders such as the HGÜ-Trasse and U5 Munich extension, where both compete for geotechnical investigation scopes.
• Tracto-Technik GmbH & Co. KG: German manufacturer of trenchless drilling and pipe installation equipment used in geothermal, water, and utility construction. Adjacent competitor with overlapping customers in the DACH infrastructure and geothermal installation market; smaller scale than BauGrund Süd and more equipment- than service-oriented.
• Bauer AG: German specialty foundation engineering group with a global drilling rigs and equipment business that competes directly in foundation, geothermal, and water well drilling across DACH. Comparable integrated business model spanning equipment manufacture, drilling execution, and geotechnical engineering services.
• Daldrup & Söhne AG: German drilling contractor listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange that specializes in deep and shallow geothermal wells, environmental drilling, and water wells. Most direct public-market comparable to BauGrund Süd in the DACH geothermal drilling niche, with overlapping customer base in utilities, municipalities, and industrial heat users.

Regional players

• PORR AG: Austrian construction group with strong presence in DACH infrastructure, tunneling, and energy construction. Relevant peer given BauGrund Süd's August 2025 Austrian market entry; PORR competes on Austrian tenders where geothermal and geotechnical works are bundled with larger construction scopes.

Broad incumbents

• Keller Group plc: Global ground engineering specialist headquartered in the UK with strong DACH operations through Keller Grundbau. Overlaps with BauGrund Süd on geotechnical investigation, ground improvement, and foundation works, though Keller is significantly larger, more international, and does not focus on shallow geothermal drilling for heat pumps.
• STRABAG SE: European construction group with leading German and Austrian market presence (including Züblin). Competes on large infrastructure tenders where geotechnical and geothermal drilling form part of larger civil works packages, especially in Austria following BauGrund Süd's Imst office opening.
• Bilfinger SE: German-listed industrial services provider serving process industries, energy, and infrastructure with engineering, maintenance, and inspection services. Broader portfolio than BauGrund Süd but overlaps on energy infrastructure projects (district heating, geothermal, grid) where Bilfinger acts as EPC contractor.
• Leonhard Weiss Bauunternehmung GmbH & Co. KG: Large family-owned German construction company with significant infrastructure, road, and energy network construction operations. Competes with BauGrund Süd on large public infrastructure tenders (including grid and rail projects) and increasingly in geothermal/installation services for utility-scale projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/baugrundsued

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BauGrund South