With the handover of the funding approval notice by the State of Brandenburg to the municipal utility - presented by Kathrin Schneider, Minister and Head of the State Chancellery of the State of Brandenburg - the way is now clear for the construction of two transfer stations, a large-scale thermal storage facility to optimize future heat input, and a new district heating pipeline from the EEW site in Großräschen to Senftenberg. Starting in approximately 2029, around 8,000 households as well as public institutions are expected to be supplied with green heat generated from the use of unavoidable waste heat.
The new pipeline will connect the thermal waste treatment plant in Großräschen with the municipal heating network. In doing so, EEW is making a tangible contribution to the heat transition: The use of unavoidable waste heat as an energy source reduces CO₂ emissions and improves the efficiency of existing infrastructure.
“With the expansion of district heating in Großräschen, we are the second city in Brandenburg to utilize waste heat for the municipal district heating network, thereby replacing fossil fuels in heat generation. In this way, we are consistently implementing municipal heat planning, reducing CO₂ emissions by around 19,000 metric tons per year, and at the same time strengthening security of supply for our citizens,” says Ronny Kleinert, Managing Director of Stadtwerke Senftenberg.
Kathrin Schneider, Minister and Head of the State Chancellery, emphasized: “The combination of economic strength, efficient energy use, and climate protection is being realized by Stadtwerke Senftenberg through the transformation of its heat supply. Previously unused waste heat from the ‘Sonne’ industrial site will be made available as district heating for thousands of citizens. With funding from the structural strengthening program, we are - in line with our Lusatia program - making targeted investments in regional infrastructure, in affordable and climate-friendly energy use, and thus in essential public services.”
Daniel Ziegler, Technical Managing Director of EEW Energy from Waste Großräschen GmbH, explains: “As of today, the starting signal has been given - the project can now get underway. The funding approval notice demonstrates that intelligent use of waste heat is a key building block of the heat transition. We are systematically developing our Großräschen site further - toward becoming a modern energy provider.”
Further technical planning for the implementation of the project will be carried out in the coming months. Construction of the pipeline is expected to begin in 2027. The project will technologically upgrade the Großräschen site: The facility will be enhanced with a future-proof heat integration system, further strengthening its role within the regional energy infrastructure. The partnership with Stadtwerke Senftenberg demonstrates how industrial energy sources and municipal supply solutions can be effectively combined - reliably, economically, and in a climate-friendly manner.