Energy project in a glasshouse: Eco friendly CHP

What’s Adlershof doing with 2000 cubic metres of hot water? This isn’t bubbling from a hot spring, but is filling five gigantic heat reservoirs of the new Energy Centre in Adlershof. At its inauguration, the operator BTB set an example for the economical and ecological generation of heat and power.

This combined heat and power (CHP) plant located between Albert-Einstein-Strasse, Ernst-Ruska-Ufer, and Wegedornstrasse is not really new, but was built in 1966 for the GDR Academy of Sciences. Notwithstanding, the Energy Centre, inaugurated at this location on 10 September, is one of the most modern of its kind: BTB, the Berlin company that funded and operates the CHP plant, has spent the last months thoroughly revamping and expanding this gas fired plant. “And with that,” concluded BTB Managing Director Frank Mattat, “the company has invested in an ultra modern, energy efficient plant.”

The CHP plant is a key link in the district heating network, supplying not only the Adlershof Science and Technology Park, but also about ten thousand homes from Schöneweide to Treptow. Founded in 1990 and specialising in the construction and operation of power supply systems, BTB made the Energy Centre fit for the future, first installing new gas engines of greater generating capacity, and then adding five heat reservoirs.

“That way,” explained Joachim Schneider, Head of the Corporate Engineering Development Division at BTB, “we can ‘decombine’ the generation of heat and power.” The Energy Centre operates on the principles of cogeneration, i.e. the combined generation of heat and power. The problem here is that the draws on power and heat are not concurrent. “Heat,” said Schneider, “is drawn above all in the mornings and evenings, whereas the peak power demand is around noon.” The five reservoirs, each twenty metres high with a total holding capacity of 2000 cubic metres, can now store this heat in the form of hot water. The result is higher efficiency. Now about 95% (instead of the earlier 85%) of district heat is generated by eco friendly CHP. Thanks to these heat reservoirs, the annual CO2 emissions into the atmosphere have now dropped by 1000 tonnes. And together with the new engines, they have dropped by as much as 18,000 tonnes. “That is our contribution to the State of Berlin’s ambitious climate goals,” explained Mattat.

An even greater ecological feat is the new CHP plant that BTB has built on the same premises, but separate from the Energy Centre, in a joint project with the solar module maker Solon. This plant is not fired with natural gas, but bio gas, and supplies its power to Solon. The CHP plant radiates self assurance in a glass building with an adjoining pergola of greenery.

Incidentally, photovoltaic modules have also been installed on the roof of the renewable energy centre. An example of synergies made in Adlershof, these modules were supplied by Solon.

by Christian Hunziker

Link: www.btb-berlin.de