Sustainable heat from the community - instead of oil and natural gas: Great interest expressed in local heating project in Buchholz

The end of oil and gas heating is foreseeable, climate-friendly alternatives are on the rise. There was a correspondingly large crowd in Buchholz (Dithmarschen district) on 2 March when the starting signal was given for the municipality's own heat supply. Around 230 interested people came to the gym of the primary school to receive first-hand information on the planned local heating network from Mayor Eggert Braasch and a team from the energy turnaround company GP JOULE. Registration for a heat connection is possible as of now and until the end of July.

Mayor Eggert Braasch uses powerful words to illustrate why the municipality is striving for a municipal local heating network: "We want to preserve the quality of life for future generations In the long run, this cannot be achieved with fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas. To illustrate the long distance these materials have to travel before they reach the houses, Braasch has a globe pass through the rows of those present. With its own heating network, Buchholz gives its citizens the opportunity to supply themselves independently of world markets and climate-damaging fuels, and to heat at consistently low cost. The federal government's plan sets out the path for this: new heating systems are to be powered by at least 65 % renewable energies, possibly as early as 2024. "Buchholz is setting out at the right time," confirms Sören Haase, Team Manager Sales Heat Networks at GP JOULE.

From the town - for the town

The heat in Buchholz will come from the town itself - from the existing biogas plant located in the west of the town. The heating network will be expanded in three phases: The first construction phase will be located in the centre of the town and will run along both sides of the main road, starting at the biogas plant. Citizens who do not live in this first link-up area are asked by Constantin Barth, customer advisor at GP JOULE, for a little patience. The plan is to gradually connect the whole village and thus enable every household to be supplied with local heating. The municipality's own buildings will also be connected, including the primary school and gymnasium, the day-care centre and the future multi-purpose building.

The local heating offer is explicitly intended to address all citizens. "To ensure that those who are not planning to switch in the near future can also participate, there are different types of connection to choose from, namely a partial connection up to the property, a grid connection up to the house and a full connection including heat consumption," explains Barth. A partial connection is recommended in any case, even if your own heating system does not have to be replaced yet. If the connection to the property has already been laid, this simplifies a later house connection because the road does not have to be dug up again. A subsequent connection, on the other hand, would be much more complicated and correspondingly more expensive.

Individual consulting sessions are available as of now

If the required connection quota is achieved by the end of July, the heat can already flow in the 2024/25 heating period. GP JOULE advises all interested parties in personal meetings. Already at the information evening, many guests took advantage of the opportunity to talk and made an appointment to be consulted in their own homes. The so-called transfer station was also presented. It will later replace the oil or gas boiler.

GP JOULE founded Renergiewerke Buchholz on behalf of the municipality to operate the grid. Anyone interested in a connection can book a non-binding consultation appointment online. For example, the switching costs are discussed, what subsidies are available, which connection is the right one and what the next steps are. Once the decision has been made, those wishing to join can register with immediate effect.

Further information is available at www.buchholz-fernwaerme.de.

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About GP Joule
As an integrated energy supplier, GP JOULE is active in all areas of the energy value chain: from generating to using energy, from consulting to financing and project planning to construction and service. GP JOULE produces and markets wind and solar power, green hydrogen and heat and makes use of it where it is most effective: in electric and hydrogen-based mobility, in households and in industry. GP JOULE has been shaping the future of energy in Europe from Germany since 2009. With the aim of delivering a secure, independent and sustainable supply of energy. 100 % renewable energy for all.

The company's main locations are in Buttenwiesen, in the district of Dillingen, and in Reußenköge in North Frisia, where the founders and former fellow students Heinrich Gärtner and Ove Petersen each took over their parents' farms after studying agricultural engineering and expanded them with company offices. Around 600 people work for the medium-sized group of companies in Germany, Europe and North America.

GP JOULE was awarded the German Mobility Prize 2022 for the hydrogen mobility project eFarm.

Press contact
Jürn Kruse
Corporate Communications
GP JOULE Gruppe
j.kruse@gp-joule.de 
Tel. +49 (0) 4671-6074-213
Mobil +49 (0) 160-1540265
GP JOULE GmbH     Cecilienkoog 16  •  25821 Reußenköge  •  www.gp-joule.de