Pioneering District Heating Network Planning for Schleswig-Holstein

From October 23 to 25, Prof. Dr. Matthias Huber and Niklas Denter (research associate)  engaged in a productive exchange with Lorica Energiesysteme GmbH & Co. KG. Lorica is a medium-sized family-owned company based in Schleswig-Holstein, founded in 2002 by Dr. Bernd Panzer and Dipl.-Ing. agr. Siegfried Panzer.
To date, Lorica has primarily focused on power generation from wind turbines, which currently benefit from the EEG subsidies, even when electricity prices are low or negative. However, starting in 2025, subsidies will no longer apply during periods of negative electricity prices, and according to the German Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF), EEG subsidies are set to be phased out entirely in the long term.
Against this backdrop, the integration of power and heat systems (sector coupling) is becoming increasingly important. By utilizing power-to-heat technologies, electricity can be efficiently converted into heat during periods of low electricity prices, while the sale of electricity remains the focus during periods of high prices.
As part of the collaborative project between Lorica and the THI, Prof. Dr. Matthias Huber and Niklas Denter are supporting the planning of a renewable district heating network for three villages in Schleswig-Holstein. The main objective is to identify the economically optimal combination of generation technologies, considering local conditions and the potential of sector coupling, thereby optimizing the overall system.
During their visit to Schleswig-Holstein, Prof. Dr. Matthias Huber and Niklas Denter, together with Lorica, examined potential sites for the energy generation facilities. They also visited the villages that are planned to be connected to the future district heating network to gain an understanding of the construction year and renovation status of the buildings. This on-site exchange formed the basis for further planning efforts.