VG Konz relies on climate neutrality

Konz, March 18, 2022

Verbandsgemeinde Konz relies on climate neutrality and more independence in the energy supply - heat and electricity from the region for the region

"We all have to get away from oil, away from coal-fired power and conventional gas and always further towards climate neutrality," says Ralf Zorn, head of the Konz municipal utilities. A statement that he puts into practice at the plants wherever possible .

Joachim Weber, Mayor of the Konz municipality, adds: "The path we are taking is not only good for the environment, but also makes us more independent of others in terms of energy supply. Against the background of current global political developments, this is an important aspect that points to the future.” And it is an aspect that the team at the Verbandsgemeinde Utilities has been keeping an eye on for some time.

Photo: Mayor Joachim Weber and the first deputy of the VG Konz, Guido Wacht, with the team of the municipal utilities Konz: manager Ralf Zorn, the new environmental planner Sandra Menster and heating engineer Dirk Kopp

The central heating system at the school center in the city of Konz, for example, supplies the school center and the Saar-Mosel-Bad with heat. "Here we are already completely climate-neutral and heat with regional resources," explains Ralf Zorn . “Heat is generated by a large wood chip heating system. The small chopped leftover wood from the region is a biological fuel that grows back and is therefore CO2-neutral." Biogas is also considered climate-neutral.

And that not only has an impact on the generation of heat: the combined heat and power plant also generates electricity that is used for the company's own buildings. It is planned that the Verbandsgemeindewerke will further expand these technologies. For example, the combined heat and power plant in the Saarmündung sewage treatment plant is being renewed to become even more efficient. “Energy consumption is to be reduced through conversions, while at the same time more electricity will be generated with the new combined heat and power plant – on balance, as much as the sewage treatment plant consumes. It becomes energy-neutral,” says Ralf Zorn. In addition, the electricity and heat surplus from this source should be passed on. The plan to supply the town hall and administration building 2 with this district heating from the sewage treatment plant is already being implemented. At peak times, an additional biogas boiler will help heat the two buildings.

Electricity has been coming from renewable energies in many properties in the association municipality for a number of years anyway. The photovoltaic system on the roof of the factory supplies the building with electricity, and the excess is fed into the power grid. "There are solar systems on a total of twelve of our properties," says Guido Wacht, first councilor of the Konz municipality The sports hall in Oberemmel generates electricity that is used by the company itself or passed on to others.

Mayor Joachim Weber emphasizes: "The aim is to supply local residents with electricity from their own region, similar to what the wind turbines in Pellingen are already doing."

Of course, the same also applies to heat generation: "For example, the building authority and works always check together whether and how new development areas can be connected to locally produced, climate-neutral heat".