Germany is facing massive structural changes with the implementation of the energy transition. The documentary film "Power to change - Die EnergieRebellion", which will also be screened in Giessen on 17 March, shows what these changes are. During a discussion following the screening on Friday, CEO Matthias Funk will explain how Stadtwerke Gießen is driving forward the energy transition.
Almost exactly five years after the reactor disaster in Fukushima, Japan, an exciting documentary film, "Power to Change - The Energy Rebellion", is being released in German cinemas. The film describes from various angles how Germany is tackling the energy transition project of the century, where it has already come a long way and where there are still problems.
The logical consequence of such a controversial film: a passionate discussion. This is exactly what will take place after the Friday screening of "Power to Change" at the Giessen Cinema Centre. Matthias Funk, Technical Director of Stadtwerke Gießen AG (SWG), sits on the podium alongside Martin Krauss, spokesman for the BUND regional energy working group. There is a reason for his presence. After all, SWG has long been committed to being a regional pioneer of the energy transition. Efficient biogas plants, the TREA, in which heat is generated from waste, biomass heating plants and over 100 combined heat and power plants, the largest of which are fuelled with biogas, speak for themselves.
The pure figures are also convincing. In 2014, only 7.5 tonnes of climate-damaging greenhouse gases were produced per Giessen citizen - 2.8 tonnes less than in 1990. "In these 24 years, we have reduced emissions by 27 per cent," emphasises Matthias Funk. SWG also occupies a top position in the national comparison when it comes to the primary energy factor: for Giessen, it is 0.36. This means that SWG only has to use 0.36 kilowatt hours of energy from natural gas, oil or coal for every kilowatt hour of heat that it supplies to its customers. The rest already comes from renewable sources. This naturally goes hand in hand with the expansion of renewable energies in electricity generation. In 2014, the share of renewable energy was already around 26 per cent.
Although SWG is much further along the path to the energy transition than the majority of German energy suppliers, the specialists from Lahnstrasse are already working on numerous other projects in which they want to utilise renewable energies. TREA II, which is already under construction, is expected to reduce the primary energy factor to below 0.2 when it goes into operation in 2017. The experts are also exploring many other possibilities together with scientists from the Technical University of Central Hesse. For example, how sewage sludge or biowaste can be efficiently converted into usable energy.
Achieving even more together
For the future, Matthias Funk sees it as a key task for SWG to work together with the city of Giessen, the numerous municipalities in the district and the citizens to further advance the local energy transition. "Together, we can probably even exceed the ambitious targets set by the federal government," the graduate engineer is certain.
A good part of the way has already been travelled. All private households and small commercial enterprises automatically receive green electricity generated in Giessen without nuclear power and at no extra charge. Around 40 per cent of this electricity - i.e. around 109 million kilowatt hours per year - is generated virtually next door, in a climate-friendly manner in the numerous combined heat and power plants. They produce electrical energy and heat at the same time. The latter is also supplied to households as sustainable energy via the city's district heating network. Thanks to CHP, Stadtwerke Gießen saves around 78,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year compared to the separate generation of heat and electricity.
Conclusion: The bar is set high in Giessen and the region. But the technical possibilities are far from exhausted. So it remains exciting. Not just in the film.
"Power to Change - The Energy Rebellion"
Friday, 18 March, 6:30 pm, followed by a discussion with Martin Krauss and Matthias Funk