Second energy transition sandbox to transform heat supply in lignite mining areas
Clean Energy Wire
Germany’s economy ministry announced on Monday the launch of its second regulatory sandbox (Energiewende Reallabor) for the energy transition. The TransUrban.NRW project is set to transform heat supply in four neighbourhoods in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) that have been shaped by lignite mining. The five-year-long project aims to transform the traditional district heating supply via high-temperature and steam networks into a low-CO2 supply system. Renewable energy from geothermal sources, wastewater and low-temperature waste heat are to be included in the supply on a large scale. The low-temperature networks required for this purpose are being newly built or integrated into the existing infrastructure. The project will include four individual undertakings in neighbourhoods in the cities of Gelsenkirchen, Mönchengladbach, Herne and Erkrath. Each of the four undertakings represent a different focus of innovation.
The economy ministry has approved approximately 16.7 million euros for the TransUrban.NRW project. It is one of 20 regulatory sandbox projects selected by the ministry last year in a competition. Eight projects are focused on energy optimisation of urban neighbourhoods.
