Our district heating for Jena

River thermal energy
covers most of the heat demand

The use of the river thermal energy of the river Saale is to become the centrepiece of green district heating in Jena. Thus, almost 50 % of the heat demand could be covered in a  climate-neutral way - always independent from the weather.

Geo-thermal energy
contributes to the base load

The local quaternary and red sandstone soils are suitable for heat generation using near-surface geothermal energy. Around 3 % of the heat demand could be covered in this way.

Power-to-Heat
supplements at peak load times

With power-to-heat, green district heating can be generated from green electricity - especially on sunny and windy days. Electrode boilers, which work like oversized immersion heaters, use the surplus electricity to generate hot water.

Hydrogen
replaces natural gas - at least partially

Gas-fired plants still contribute importantly to heat generation. For the time being, existing gas boilers will continue to be operated with natural gas but will gradually be converted to hydrogen by 2040.

Biogas
gains importance

The heat output of the biogas plant in Jena-Zwätzen, which already produces green electricity and green heat, is to be significantly expanded. In this way, biogas could contribute about 4 % to the heat demand in the future - about twice as much as before.

Solar thermal energy
is to make a greater contribution

Using the power of the sun and generating emission-free district heating - we want to significantly expand this option by 2040. For example, it is planned to use areas in the Saale meadows to instal elevated solar thermal modules.