ENGIE Deutschland secures climate-friendly heat supply with Bruchsal local heating network

In Bruchsal, Baden-Württemberg, ENGIE Deutschland GmbH is implementing a future-oriented energy savings project for three customers: The specialist for technology, energy and service provides a particularly innovative local heat supply in the Evangelical Center for the Elderly, which is run by the Diakonieverein Bruchsal e.V., and in the St. Paulusheim (private high school, which is run by the school foundation of the Archdiocese of Freiburg and the convent of the Pallottiner). The project is based on 4 guiding principles: ecological, economic, ecumenical and local aspects were the focus from the very beginning: The ENGIE team is implementing an ecologically and economically meaningful project for two Christian sponsors with neighboring properties, working together with local companies. "The sustainable renovation and modernization of our buildings in line with energy, architectural and conceptual requirements were driving factors for the realization of the construction project. With this basic approach, we have convincingly communicated the initial impetus for a local heating network with the neighborhood," says Dr. Christian Waterkamp, Chairman of Diakonieverein Bruchsal e.V. Markus Zepp, Headmaster of St. Paulusheim High School, emphasizes: "With the exemplary joint project of the 'Four Principles', we are making a sustainable contribution to the preservation of creation. We are proud when we can give our students vital inspiration for their life's journey as a result."

ENGIE's motto: ecologically valuable, economically sensible

The experts from ENGIE Deutschland first replaced the previous heating supply, which was based on fuel oil, with a modern local heating network and set up three heating centers with two new combined heat and power units (CHP), a new pellet boiler and two new gas condensing boilers as heat generators with a total heat output of 2.3 megawatts. They connected them via a partially buried local heating line. The team also upgraded the existing heating distributors in the control centers with high-efficiency pumps and innovative control technology; all the work was carried out during ongoing operation – to the complete satisfaction of the customer. After the conversion, the supply phase started, which will continue for a total of 20 years. The heat is now generated primarily from biomass and by combined heat and power (CHP) and only in peak load times by gas boilers. As part of the energy supply contract, customers benefit from attractive prices for gas, CHP power and pellets for the entire duration of the contract. ENGIE Deutschland obtains the latter from a pellet supplier from the neighboring town – entirely in the spirit of the "Four Principles".

CO2 emissions significantly reduced

Today, for example, the private high school and the Pallottine Order's self-sufficiency from the CHP units and from photovoltaic power is 96 percent. Thanks to the upgrades carried out, the heating requirements of the three customers have already fallen by 925 MWh/year, a reduction of 22 percent. As a result, they have achieved a significant reduction in CO2 emissions, as Anne Geier, Project Manager Energy Solutions at ENGIE Deutschland, reports: "We are proud that we have reduced CO2 emissions in the Bruchsal local heating network by 812 tons per year, and thus by more than 56 percent compared to the previous situation before our conversion measures. In this way, we are achieving the strategic corporate objective of ENGIE in an exemplary manner, to accompany our customers on their way to climate neutrality with environmentally friendly solutions."