Heating centre plus local heating network - this combination stands for a climate-friendly and cost-effective energy supply in Lollar's "Lumdaniederung" development area. On 18 November, the town of Lollar and Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) officially inaugurated the modern plant. Also present: Lollar's mayor Dr Bernd Wieczorek and SWG board member Matthias Funk.
Anyone who extensively renovates their house or builds a new home must cover part of their heating requirements with energy generated from renewable sources. This is stipulated by the German government in the Renewable Energies Heat Act and is primarily aimed at significantly reducingCO2 emissions. The obligation can be fulfilled very easily with the help of heating energy from a local or district heating network, as the legislator equates combined heat and power (CHP) with renewable energies, among other things. For this reason, some local authorities in the district of Giessen have equipped their new development areas with local heating networks from the outset in recent years - such as the town of Lollar.
In the "Lumdaniederung" development area, Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) built a heating centre and laid local heating pipes for several dozen building plots. On Friday 18 November, the town of Lollar and SWG officially put the system into operation. Mayor Dr Bernd Wieczorek explained at the inauguration: "With the local heating network, we are creating the conditions for all families to easily supply their own four walls with energy that is both climate-friendly and cost-effective. With Stadtwerke Gießen, we have the ideal partner with a wealth of experience in this field right on our doorstep."
Heat and electricity from a single source
The centrepiece of the heating system is a combined heat and power plant (CHP) with a thermal output of 109 kilowatts (kW) and an electrical output of 70 kW. As the CHP works on the principle of combined heat and power generation, it produces heat and electricity at the same time. Matthias Funk, Technical Director of SWG, explained the advantage: "Compared to the separate production of heat and electricity, CHP is an efficient and climate-friendly supply solution. This type of generation really comes into its own in combination with a heating network. What we have been relying on in Giessen for decades on a large scale also works on a small scale, as here in Lollar."
Overall, the plant will reduce fuel requirements by around 30 per cent compared to separate electricity and heat production - andCO2 emissions by around 137 tonnes per year. While the heating energy is consumed directly on site in the new development area, the CHP electricity flows into the public grid.
Flexible thanks to modular design
In its current expansion stage, the CHP plant generates up to 700,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of heat and 420,000 kWh of electricity per year. Depending on demand and the number of houses completed in the development area, the CHP plant can be expanded in future - up to doubling the production output to 140 kW electrical and 218 kW thermal.
The heated water is transported from the plant via well-insulated pipes to the properties and into the buildings via house transfer stations. Homeowners benefit from this energy solution in several ways: they do not have to install their own heating system, which saves space and money. In addition, there is no need for regular maintenance work on a boiler or the costs of a chimney sweep. "Together with SWG, we offer house builders an ideal form of heat supply - in terms of climate protection, comfort and security," emphasised Dr Bernd Wieczorek.
At peak load times - for example during the morning hours in winter - the CHP is supported by additional natural gas condensing boilers. They have a total thermal output of 800 kW or 1600 kW in the final expansion. This ensures that sufficient climate-friendly and cost-effective heat is available for residents at all times.
Anyone interested can find out all about local heating from the energy advisors at the Stadtwerke Gießen customer centre on Marktplatz - either in person on site or by telephone. Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., telephone 0800 23 02 100