Stadtwerke Gießen is replacing seven pumps at the Queckborn waterworks. And for good reason: year after year, the new units save more than 190,000 kilowatt hours of electricity.
When it comes to investing in systems and networks, those responsible in the utility industry usually think and plan in decades. However, when it comes to massive technical improvements, the engineers sometimes deviate from the original plan. The Queckborn waterworks will be undergoing just such an early modernisation in the coming weeks. "The current generation of pumps impresses with its significantly increased efficiency," begins Peter Keller, Head of the Energy & Water Networks department at Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG). He adds: "We are once again seizing an opportunity to harmonise economy and ecology - by already relying on highly efficient pumps."
Tapping into savings potential
What exactly is happening? In order to pump drinking water from the waterworks to Giessen, Grünberg, Queckborn and Harbach, the pressure needs to be increased. This is ensured by seven pumps - three for Giessen and two each for the other two areas supplied by SWG. These pumps have been doing their job since the last total overhaul of the waterworks 16 years ago. And from a purely functional point of view, they would probably continue to fulfil this task satisfactorily for another ten years.
Although this high level of reliability is still a necessary criterion for the decision for or against modernisation, it is no longer a sufficient one. Because: "The efficiency of the new pumps is 76 per cent, which is 15 per cent higher than that of the pumps currently in use," calculates Peter Keller. This naturally has a decisive influence on electricity consumption. Once all seven pumps have been installed, SWG will save around 192,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year - roughly equivalent to the consumption of 50 average households. This also means a corresponding saving in climate-relevantCO2.
Praise from Berlin
The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety has recognised the fact that SWG has recognised and made use of this opportunity - in the form of a certificate. The document recognises SWG's exemplary commitment to climate protection. It also recognises that the federal government is supporting the exchange through the National Climate Initiative. "We have already received the funding notification," says Peter Keller happily. The letter states that SWG will receive a grant of 154,000 euros - i.e. 40 per cent of the total amount.
The renewal of the pumps at the Queckborn waterworks is a prime example of how SWG works. The experts from Lahnstrasse are constantly looking for options to increase energy efficiency. True to the motto: "The better is the enemy of the good." This applies in all areas. "Making the best possible use of the energy we use is one of our overriding corporate goals. And it has been for many years - long before terms such as climate change or energy transition became part of everyday language," summarises Peter Keller. The reason for this is obvious: it is usually more economical to save energy than to waste it.