Energy Topics

Energy Topics

Renewable thermal energy

For the success of the energy transition, the thermal energy transition must likewise succeed. To achieve German climate protection targets, changes must begin to bite in the thermal energy market by 2030. Demand for space heating and hot water needs slashing by a quarter by 2030, with remaining demand covered by renewable resources. The proportion currently covered by renewable thermal energy is just 13%.

Alternatives to Fossil Energy Sources

Various ways exist to reduce the use of fossil energy sources in the thermal energy sector. These include for instance the generation of low temperature thermal energy through solar collectors, using renewable combustible fuels with wood and biogas, generating thermal energy using electric heat pumps or using excess electricity in electrical heating systems in the form of “Power-to-Heat” processes.

Connections between the Electricity and the Thermal Sector

Various crossing points exist between the electricity and thermal energy sectors - sector coupling being the natural beneficiary. In the case of “combined heat and power”, electricity and thermal energy can be jointly produced, resulting in very high energy efficiency. Renewable Energy Hamburg offers various formats to discuss the technical approaches associated with energy transition in the thermal energy sector.  

Flagship project: Extended Heat Utilization of Stadtreinigung Hamburg

The project "Extended Heat Utilization Waste Management Borsigstraße (MVB) "of Stadtreinigung Hamburg (the city's Waste disposal entity) pursues the goal of additional heat extraction through the targeted cooling of flue gases. Depending on demand, MVB will feed the heat directly into the district heating network or make the steam produced available to the Hamburg-Tiefstack heating power plant. Upon completion by end of 2023 MVB will feed an additional 350,000 MWh/a heat in to Wärme Hamburg's grid which alone will  result in a total  CO2 emission avoidance of 104,000 tons per year. The project  is unique in Germany and won the Project of the Year of the German Renewables Energy Award of Renewable Energies Hamburg in 2021.

More information (in German)