Feasibility Study District Heating from Geothermal Energy Prerow
26.02.2024 | Reading time 5 min
26.02.2024 | Reading time 5 min
As part of the reconceptualization of the existing Hotel Bernstein in the Baltic Sea resort of Prerow, a feasibility study on geothermal energy (deep geothermal) and associated local or district heating was conducted. Theta Concepts supported the project with an expert report on energy system modeling.
Overview
Introduction - Geothermal Energy and District Heating in Prerow
The Baltic Sea resort of Prerow is located on the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula, between the cities of Rostock and Stralsund. The municipality belongs to the Darß / Fischland administrative district and is home to around 1,500 inhabitants on an area of 11.29 km². The population density is thus about 133 inhabitants / km². Prerow is characterized by the Baltic Sea and the surrounding Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park. Tourism plays a central role here. In addition to several hotels (e.g., Hotel Bernstein Prerow, Best Western Plus Ostseehotel) and holiday resorts (Haus hinter den Dünen, Ferienresidenz Kormoran), the town is predominantly characterized by single-family and multi-family houses, or holiday homes.
Like approximately 10,700 other municipalities in the Federal Republic of Germany, the Baltic Sea resort of Prerow must become climate-neutral by 2045 at the latest. A central task in achieving this goal is the restructuring of the heat supply. The heating sector usually has the largest energy demand and is predominantly covered by fossil fuels. Prerow’s heat supply today is primarily based on natural gas (condensing boilers), oil heating systems, and occasionally electric direct heating and heat pumps.
As part of a feasibility study funded by the Federal Funding for Efficient Heating Networks (BEW), it was to be examined to what extent Prerow’s heat supply could be made climate-neutral through district heating and existing, large-scale potential of renewable energies. This project is directly related to the reconceptualization and new construction of the Hotel Bernstein located in Prerow, which wants to cover its future heat demand through deep geothermal energy. Based on initial analyses, a potential from geothermal energy was quantified that can supply not only the newly constructed hotel but also a possible district heating network.
As part of this study, Theta Concepts was commissioned to prepare an expert report to examine to what extent the remaining geothermal potential could be used to supply the Baltic Sea resort of Prerow with district heating. Various network variants, generator and storage configurations were simulated using a physical energy system model and evaluated regarding their technical and economic feasibility.
The fully physical energy system model allows an hourly comparison between the heat demands requested via the network and their coverage by different generator and storage portfolios. The following figure illustrates an example of the annual load profile of a larger network variant and its coverage through deep geothermal energy (base load), a seasonal storage facility, and additional generators for medium and peak loads.
Services
Theta Concepts GmbH provided the following services as part of the feasibility study:
- Development of an energy system model to analyze different district heating variants in the Baltic Sea resort of Prerow
- Technical and economic analysis of various generator and storage configurations as well as network variants
- Identification of the optimal supply solution and derivation of recommendations for action
- Rough dimensioning of the developed district heating variant
- Consultation with the developer
- Participation in public events through presentation of results and discussion with citizens
Customer Testimonial
“As part of the preparation of a feasibility study, the Grundstücksgesellschaft Hotel Bernstein Prerow GmbH commissioned Theta Concepts GmbH to develop an expert report.
The developer and investor’s goal was to realize a newly conceived, sustainable, resource-conserving, and innovative concept with the hotel new construction – VELA Hotel Bernstein Prerow. In the course of these plans, we set ourselves the task of investigating the potential for innovative heat supply (geothermal energy) for the entire Prerow.
It was a stroke of luck that Theta Concepts was recommended to us for this expert activity. Under the responsibility of Dr.-Ing. Dorian Holtz and Raphael Wittenburg, network variants and scenarios were proposed to the client, discussed with the political decision-makers of the municipality of Prerow for feasibility, and evaluated in a professionally competent, expert activity, as well as developing recommendations for action and decision-making aids.
This process was very team-oriented, practical, and above all understandable, for which we extend our heartfelt thanks. The preparation and conduct of discussions during the residents’ assembly and in various committee meetings were exemplary.
We are happy to recommend your engineering office further.
Peter Krüger
Acknowledgment
We thank Vela Hotels AG / Grundstücksgesellschaft Hotel Bernstein Prerow GmbH for the very pleasant cooperation and the trust placed in us.
Dr.-Ing. Dorian Holtz
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