BR-Reportage (44 min., 2021) "With timber construction out of the climate crisis?"

Published 22 January 2021

Online until 19.01.2026

In the video contribution, among other things, the Munich timber housing estate "Prince Eugene Park" and the City of Wood in Bad Aibling.

"Drought and bark beetles are taking their toll on the forest. The resulting damaged wood has caused the price of wood to plummet. The local forest owners are making a loss, even though the beetle wood is exported thousands of kilometres to China and America as construction timber. What could be the solution to the timber crisis? And could more timber construction in our country also be a way out of the climate crisis?"

https://www.br.de/mediathek/video/dokthema-politische-doku-mit-holzbau-aus-der-klimakrise-av:5fc4eef079e399001321634d

Keywords: Movies, Movies 11 to 45 Min, Wood construction, NaWaRohs, News Blog Bavaria

Published 26 March 2019

First power-to-gas plant in a residential complex

Project of the Stadtwerke and the Wohnbaugruppe Augsburg

Augsburg, 22.02.19: Together with partner company EXYTRON, Stadtwerke Augsburg (swa) has installed and commissioned the world's first decentralised power-to-gas plant in an existing residential complex. This enables a challenge of the energy transition to be mastered: surplus, regeneratively generated electricity is converted into synthetic natural gas and can thus be stored on site. Combustion then takes place in a commercially available combined heat and power plant and condensing boilers. In this way, over 180 residents in 70 apartments in the residential complex of the Augsburg housing group, which has existed since 1974, are supplied with climate-friendly electricity and heat.

"I am delighted that this pioneering project is being implemented as a cooperation between two municipal companies," explained Augsburg's Lord Mayor Dr. Kurt Gribl at the commissioning ceremony. "This innovative smart energy technology is an enormous gain for climate protection and air pollution control in Augsburg," said Stadtwerke Managing Director Alfred Müllner. "It reduces emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxide and particulate matter by up to 100 percent." And the plant enables "the energy turnaround for everyone," says Müllner, including tenants in rental apartments.

A photovoltaic system was installed on the roof of a residential block with almost 5,400 square metres of living space belonging to the housing group in Augsburg's Marconistraße, which was initially refurbished (in accordance with KfW 100). The electricity is preferably consumed directly by the tenants or used to generate hydrogen in an electrolysis plant. This is immediately converted with the carbon dioxide from the subsequent combustion into synthetic, regenerative natural gas and can be easily stored. If required, a combined heat and power plant and condensing boilers generate heat and electricity for the tenants from the natural gas obtained in this way.

A closed circuit

"The system is a closed cycle," explains Stadtwerke project manager Karl-Heinz Viets. "The waste heat from electrolysis and methanation is also used as heat for the house, and the CO2 released from combustion in the combined heat and power plant and the condensing boilers is captured and constantly reused as a recyclable material for the production of synthetic natural gas from hydrogen. In addition, the combustion of renewable natural gas produces no nitrogen oxide and no fine dust."

Utilization rate of around 90 percent

"The special feature: The electricity from the photovoltaic system but also excess electricity from the power grid, can thus be stored at short notice and seasonally with this new type of power-to-gas system," explains Klaus Schirmer, Sales Manager of the executing EXYTRON GmbH. "And because any heat generated during the process can be used in the building, this results in a previously unattainable degree of utilization of around 90 percent."

This highly efficient circuit, developed by the Rostock-based company EXYTRON, can significantly reduce the CO2 footprint of the old, renovated building block to the comparable level of a Passive House Plus standard that has not yet been achieved in the field of existing buildings. This means that the climate protection standard of the German government, which is only planned for the year 2050, can already be implemented today for older existing buildings in a socially acceptable manner.

The tenants save

"The advantage is that the system can be installed in existing buildings without great effort. As a municipal company, we see ourselves in a pioneering role in helping to shape this innovative project. And the best thing is: the tenants still save in the process," says Dr. Mark Dominik Hoppe. The Managing Director of Wohnbaugruppe Augsburg also emphasises: "If the self-sufficiency cycle is interrupted, electricity and gas connections ensure that energy and heat are still available for the residents.

The pilot project, which swa is carrying out together with the housing group in cooperation with EXYTRON GmbH, was initiated and accompanied by the project development company "energy forever" (Dr. Johannes Strasser, Gundelfingen). Work on the plant started in spring 2018 and was commissioned in mid-February 2019.

Source: PM of the Stadtwerke Augsburg

Links
www.sw-augsburg.de/power-to-gas
Innovation Award of the German Gas Industry:
www.sw-augsburg.de/...innovationspreis-fuer-das-power-to-gas-projekt-der-swa
https://exytron.online/klimafreundliches-wohnen-in-augsburg
www.powertogas.info/...exytron-klimafreundliches-wohnen-augsburg

Keywords:
Stock, DE-News, Energy storage, Research, Climate protection, News Blog Bavaria, PV, Power-to-Gas, Quarters, Settlements, Contests & Prizes, Housing, eMobility, Ecology

Published 27 October 2016

Solar houses not affected by EEG amendment

Funding for solar houses with large photovoltaic and solar thermal systems for heat, electricity and mobility remains consistently high

"Solar houses with large photovoltaic and solar thermal systems for the climate-friendly generation of electricity and heat are not affected by the changes in the amended Renewable Energy Sources Act." Rainer Körner, 2nd Chairman of the Sonnenhaus-Institut e.V., points this out. Since the EEG 2017 was passed by the Bundesrat and the Bundestag on 8 July 2016, it has been strongly criticised from various sides. "Even if certain changes will certainly not lead to rapid progress in the energy transition and climate protection, the impression must not be created now that solar systems are generally no longer worthwhile," says Körner. The managing director of the Heilbronn-based construction company KHB-Creativ Wohnbau has been vice-chairman of the Competence Network for Solar Construction since November 2015. "For solar houses, the subsidy remains constantly high." For photovoltaic systems with an output of up to 10 kilowatts, nothing will change in the EEG 2017. In this size range, these plants will still be exempt from participation in the EEG apportionment. Regardless of the EEG, solar thermal systems on solar houses will continue to receive very good support from the federal government's Market Incentive Programme (MAP).

Savings through solar energy for electricity and heat

In solar houses with photovoltaics and solar thermal energy, the residents benefit in several ways. In the area of electricity generation, they can generate solar electricity at a price that is lower than the purchase price from the energy supplier and use it themselves. Depending on the size of the solar power system, energy consumption and other parameters, up to about 30 percent of the solar power can be consumed without energy storage. With battery storage, it can easily be up to 70 or 80 percent of household electricity. The solar electricity can also be used to generate heat with the help of a heating rod or a heat pump. And it can charge an electric vehicle. This means that solar house owners save on energy costs by using their self-generated solar power, and they also receive compensation for the surplus solar power that is fed into the public grid.

In the area of heat supply, the focus is on gaining purchasing power through savings. With large solar systems, more than half of the heating energy demand in solar houses is solar-generated. "With solar coverage rates of 60 or 70 percent, the savings for oil or gas, which you don't have to buy, are considerable," Körner explains.

Solar house as an individual contribution to climate protection

"But the all-embracing bracket is climate protection," he adds. "The large solar plants ensure that energy for heat, electricity and mobility can be produced with extremely low CO2 emissions and without coal, oil and natural gas." And that, after all, is ultimately the goal of the energy transition and also of the EEG, says Körner. Solar houses also contribute to grid stabilisation, since the energy they produce and consume themselves does not use the grid.

However, one legal innovation is also relevant for the builders of solar houses. As a result of the Digitalisation Act, which was also passed at the beginning of July, photovoltaic systems with an output of more than seven kilowatts must be equipped with a smart meter measuring device. "For a single-family house with average electricity consumption, however, a smaller photovoltaic system is completely sufficient to achieve a reasonable self-sufficiency rate," says Körner.

The Sonnenhaus-Institut has prepared sample calculations for the subsidies for large solar heating systems, which are handled by the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA). "The subsidy rates for large solar heating systems have never been as high as they are today," Körner emphasises. Building owners can receive up to half of the investment costs for solar collectors as a BAFA grant. "With a solar house, every builder and renovator can make a contribution to climate protection - and thus make themselves a bit independent of energy suppliers and political framework conditions."

Sample calculations for the BAFA solar subsidy:
www.sonnenhaus-institut.de/...solarfoerderung_beispiele.pdf

Further information: Sonnenhaus-Institut e.V.
www.sonnenhaus-institut.de

Source: PM Sonnenhaus-Institut e.V. (July 2016)

Keywords:
Construction and operating costs, DE-News, Renewable, Funding, Climate protection, PlusEnergy house/settlement, Environmental policy

Published 23. December 2016

Agency for Renewable Energies: further decreasing investment costs for PV, wind and electric storage expected

Further decreasing investment costs for PV, wind and electric storage expected: In this regard, the Agency for Renewable Energies (AEE) publishes a new meta-analysis today. It compares the investment costs reported in 15 studies for a total of 11 energy technologies, including offshore and onshore wind energy, photovoltaics and solar thermal energy. It also presents statements on the investment costs of storage technologies and heat pumps. "The meta-analysis shows that specific costs for wind energy and photovoltaics are expected to continue to fall despite the cost reductions already achieved.

Another piece of good news for the energy transition is that investment costs for storage technologies can also be expected to fall drastically in some cases," says AEE Managing Director Philipp Vohrer, summarising the key findings of the meta-analysis.

PM AEE's costs for PV and wind continue to fall from 22 December 2016

Keywords:
Construction and operating costs, DE-News, Energy storage, Renewable, Media, New books and studies, PV, PlusEnergy house/settlement, Electricity storage, Ecology, Economics

Published 10 December 2020

Alliance for more climate protection in the construction sector: Federal government must address savings potential in construction and waste disposal

Broad alliance of civil society, science, business and practice demands,
take the entire life cycle of construction into account
In addition to energy consumption in the use phase, the climate impact must be
of building materials and the construction and disposal of buildings
be considered
National climate targets can only be achieved if all savings potentials of the
construction sector can be used

A broad alliance of actors from civil society, science, industry and practice is calling on the German government to promote the climate-friendly construction, maintenance and demolition of buildings. Up to now, only the use phase of buildings has been taken into account in state subsidies for buildings and in the Building Energy Act. There is a complete lack of specifications and consideration of the climate impact of building materials and the construction and disposal of buildings - despite the fact that the construction sector, with its upstream and downstream processes, contributes around 8 percent to German greenhouse gas emissions.

More than 60 supporters have already signed the appeal "Focusing on the entire building life cycle - a key issue for climate protection", which was published today. With the appeal, the Alliance calls for requirements to be placed on the entire life cycle of the building in federal funding for efficient buildings and in the Building Energy Act.

Dr. Ulrich Wischnath, executive director of Bauwende explains, "The importance of upstream and downstream processes in construction is significant. Today, a typical new building has already caused half of its energy consumption and CO2 emissions before it is first used. We can only reduce this environmental impact if the legal requirements for buildings also apply to the construction and building materials.“

Barbara MetzDeputy Federal Executive Director of Deutsche Umwelthilfe adds: "For effective climate protection, we must consider the entire life cycle of buildings. There is great potential for reducing climate gases from construction and building materials - but this is in danger of being wasted due to a lack of specifications. That's why state funding for renovation and construction must also be linked to criteria that guarantee sustainable building all round."

"The faster the framework conditions are set, the faster the implementation will start and the more houses will be built with the improved climate standard. This is not only good for the climate. Sustainable construction methods and materials also conserve resources and reduce further environmental impacts of the construction sector," notes Danny Püschel, energy policy and climate protection officer at NABU.

The signatories of the appeal point out that after more than 30 years of research and more than a decade of practical testing, there are established procedures for an assessment oriented to the life cycle of buildings. The Federal Government must make sustainable building more widespread by launching the "Federal Promotion for Efficient Buildings" at the beginning of the year. The Building Energy Act must also be revised so that it formulates requirements for buildings that relate to their environmental impact over their entire life cycle. Only in this way can the enormous potential for savings in construction and disposal be tackled in a targeted manner.

The Signatories of the call represent a broad spectrum: from building material manufacturers to energy consultant associations and other building professionals to large environmental associations and the Architects for Future.

The appeal is open for signature until the end of January. Afterwards, it will be presented at a public event and discussed with political representatives. If you would like to sign the appeal, please contact wischnath@bauwende.de

Contact
Dr. Ulrich Wischnath, Managing Director, Bauwende
0176 64059904, wischnath@bauwende.de

Constantin Zerger, Head of Energy and Climate Protection, Deutsche Umwelthilfe
0160 433 40 14, zerger@duh.de

Danny Püschel, Energy Policy and Climate Protection Officer
03028 49 84-15 21, Danny.Pueschel@NABU.DE

Keywords:
Building materials / Construction, DE-News, Housing policy, Life cycle assessment