Bautzner Stadtwerk is facing up to the necessities and the climate policy goals of the EU and the German government to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality in the energy and heating supply by 2045.

A key lever for urban living spaces is the decarbonization of the heat supply, as its primary energy consumption exceeds electricity consumption many times over. More than a third of Bautzen's heat is already provided by highly efficient combined heat and power generation in the form of district or local heating.

A transformation plan for heating is now to be drawn up as part of the federal funding programme "Efficient heating networks", in which decarbonization will be gradually implemented.

The phase-out of fossil fuels (decarbonization) is a complex process and can only take place gradually. Important elements here are the generation plants and the district heating network, which enables the central integration of various large-scale and, if necessary, decentralized generation, waste heat and storage technologies. The technical possibilities of the customers must also be taken into account.

Adapting the system requires a high level of investment and also scientific expertise in the optimal design. EWB has found a recognized local partner in Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences.

Tackling joint projects

The partners have already set their sights on their first concrete projects.  "We are focusing on topics that are directly related to the energy transition and promise tangible solutions. This includes, for example, optimizing the use of existing and future generation plants. We also want to work together on specific steps towards decarbonizing the heating network and investigating entire district solutions for a climate-neutral heat supply," explains Kai Kaufmann, Managing Director of EWB, adding: "The energy market has become more complex. In addition to a mix of technologies, the economic and social aspects must also be harmonized with the climate policy framework. Combining our practical experience with the scientific perspective of the HSZG is therefore important for us."

The Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences has commissioned the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the Institute of Process Engineering, Process Automation and Metrology to implement the content of the cooperation. The sole purpose of the cooperation agreement is to initially conduct joint research into the basic principles required for commercial use of the methods in practice. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Matthias Kunick, Professor of Energy Systems Engineering, is responsible for the content.

Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences is one of the leading universities of applied sciences in eastern Germany. At the interface of technology, business and society, numerous research projects and transfer networks are working on solutions for the future.