Inauguration ceremony of the Schwerin geothermal heating plant in Germany (source: YouTube screenshot / TV: SCHWERIN)
An inauguration ceremony was held for the commissioning of the new 5.7-MWth geothermal heating plant in Schwerin in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
The geothermal heating plant in the Lankow district of Schwerin, Germany has officially started operations. The commissioning was marked by an inauguration ceremony where Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Minister-President Manuela Schwesig were in attendance.
We had reported closely on the progress of this landmark district heating project, from the first announcement of drilling back in 2018 to the horizontal drilling of the brine lines and the announcement of the target date for commissioning.
The Schwerin heating plant of Stadtwerke Schwerin utilizes geothermal water pumped from a depth of 1300 meters. This water is initially at a temperature of 56 degrees Celsius. The heat is transferred to an intermediate circuit before the temperature is increased using heat pumps. This is then supplied to the district heating system by which it provides the heating needs of 2000 households, or about 15% of the district heating customers in Schwerin.
The electricity used for the heat pumps comes from the company’s natural gas combined heat and power plants. However, the plan is to eventually use self-produced biogas to generate this electricity.
The facility has a capacity of 5.7 MWth. According to Stadtwerke Schwerin, an investment of EUR 20.5 million went into the project. EU subsidies covered EUR 6.8 million. The geothermal project contributes towards the company’s goal of being climate-neutral by 2035.
“Climate-neutral, efficient and with concrete benefits for local residents, the system is an example of how the energy transition can succeed in Germany,” stated Schwesig during the inauguration ceremony.
“Unlike wind or sun, geothermal energy is available around the clock,” said Scholz. “They can also secure the base load on days with little sun and wind and are therefore a perfect addition to the wind energy in which Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is already at the forefront.”
Source: NDR
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