Stadtwerke Flensburg lower CO2 emissions: on course for climate neutrality!

Stadtwerke Flensburg lower CO2 emissions: on course for climate neutrality!

Flensburg, Deutschland - The Stadtwerke Flensburg embarked on a sustainable course and in 2024 reduced CO2 emissions by 10% compared to the previous year. Smpited 463,508 tons of CO2 were emitted-this corresponds to about half of the CO2 footprint of a Flensburg city dweller. This result is clearly due to the exchange of coal for natural gas, which reduces emissions by around 40%. But the journey to climate neutrality is not yet over. According to NDR is still slightly above the reduction path, which is defined by up to 2035 in the transformation plan become.

An important step in this way is the operation of a second gas and steam turbine power plant since summer 2023. In the future, the first large heat pump that uses funds will start in 2027; Another system is planned for 2031. However, there are also challenges: the planned heat pumps will only be able to deliver about half of the power required in winter and must be throttled with strong frost.

challenges and solutions

Stadtwerke will soon also have to fall back on green hydrogen, which is expected to be available from Denmark before 2032. In addition, a renovation of the district heating network is necessary in order to be able to optimally use the energy of the large heat pumps. In the future, thicker pipes should transport the district heating with a temperature of 90 instead of 120 degrees. Stadtwerke Flensburg have to replace the ambition, coal and gas for ten years faster than planned-a very ambitious undertaking.

Planning also provides for the implementation of one of the world's largest systems for the use of thermal energy from the fjord, which is to heat a fifth of the city from 2027. The first climate-friendly substation in Schleswig-Holstein is also implemented by SH Netz and is scheduled to go into operation in mid-2026.

technical considerations

The challenges in energy production relate not only to the conversion of the energy sources, but also to the refrigerant used. There are both synthetic and natural refrigerants, each of which has their advantages and disadvantages. Ammonia, for example, is a necessary refrigerant, but brings risks such as high toxicity. On the other hand, CO₂ was used as a refrigerant in Esbjerg, but is not suitable for Flensburg due to the too high return temperatures. In this context, reference is also made to isobutaneous, which could generally be used, but has not yet been used in Flensburg.

The Study of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solare Energy Systems Germany. It emphasizes that technical CO2 sinks and the view of the different sectors such as energy industry, industry and traffic are essential for the success of the energy transition. The future of Flensburg seems to be associated with many challenges, but also great opportunities.