Energy Supply Company – Stadtwerke Meiningen (SM) Visit
This day, we head to Stadtwerke Meiningen GmbH - a municipal company that located in Meiningen, in the southern part of the state of Thuringia for our first destination.
Stadtwerke Meiningen GmbH operates in a wide range of business areas, offering to its customer gas, heating, electricity and water treatment. This is the chance to see different technologies system applied in combination which deliver around 70% of the energy requirement to the town from renewable technologies. The synergy effects of this cross system are to minimize emission and operating costs. Moreover, this company is owned by the municipality and income is reinvesting into the community. Their aim is to supply 100% to the town with renewable energy that has been set back by locals when a geothermal installation was blocked because of the concern of over hills rolling down. This can related to the same issue of fracking we have in the UK.
We are first directed to see the district and local heating system. A district heating scheme comprises a network of insulated pipes used to deliver heat, in the form of hot water or steam, from the point of generation to the end user. The district heating system uses three engines, which can be used individually when needed; the heat produces can supplies over 3500 flats and 40 companies. The heat generated by the system is sufficient to carry heat across the town of Meiningen and there is an interesting fact that with the engine cooling system represented with the green tubing on the picture, the company is able to heat their offices at no cost. That is what we call efficiency! (Salvatore) Furthermore, district heating networks provide direct benefit such as enabling the efficient transportation and the use of heat for a wide variety of users and provide a means of securing significant reduction in CO2 emissions.
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Figure 35: Part of the heating district scheme system
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Afterwards, we are going to visit their solar panel installation, which they install for environmental reason only on the rooftops of building as policy. Located on their car park they have a solar PV installation which produces 640 Kw/h. Each of the PVs system has a microchip which helps them to trace back if stolen. The car park was constructed for the solar array and has an electric car charger which is free to use for anyone with an electric car. Here we are shown the two type of plug system they use and we are given the chance to test drive electric car, the new Renault Zoe which cost around 25,000 euro and the Renault van.
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Figure 35-37: The overview of the Renault Van
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| Figure 38-39: PV Panel (left) & a conceptual picture for PV solar system |
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| Figure 40-41: A device which focus solar energy cooking method |
In addition, we saw a device which concentrates the solar energy to provide cooking power. Made with lightweight aluminum, cost around 300 euros easy to use and assemble ideal for sunny countries.
Finally, we have realied that Stadtwerke Meiningen GmbH is operating in cooperation with the Agricultural Society Herpf mbH, which tend to supply the gas to city using a combination of animal and vegetable waste products. Through targeted mixing and fermentation of manure and crops such as maize and grass, they produce biogas. The power generation is approximately 7 million kW/h of district heating and 10 million kW/h of electricity can be provided solely by the biogas plant.
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Figure 42: The overview of the site and
the farming area (taken from the official website)
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Back to BCS College for feedback & say goodbye
As our time comes to the end in Germany, we go back to BCS College to have lunch and meet with the head manager for our final programme. After we all finish our lunch, we are being invited to discuss what we have learnt during the whole trip. Each of our team has their chance to say what they feel the trip has meant to them. For me (Gary), I very satisfied for the whole timing for this trip as it is not very rushes and the programmes are very rich and cover a lot. I am impressive about the local people that we have met are very respected to the regional’s environment. The growing of German’s renewable technologies is very fast, with efficiency and clean. One concern for me is about the houses in UK built are heated by using the cheap energy, even the ventilation system in some of the UK building like the library in my University is very bad (too hot and can’t breathe). After seeing the technique of Passive House, I would like to see a continuing European programme that can be developed, so that they can help and solve the problem of UK houses insulation in future.
Rest of the team clarified that they are all very satisfied with the whole journey for the programme as it is in good time management, cover a lot, deep and all facilities are good to learn, especially the hydro visit, solar world visit and the waste plant visit. Jose said that it will be good if the internet speed in guest house can be highly improved in future. Millie suggested that it will be good for the entire leaflets websites and presentation are in English version, so that everyone can save their time for translation and it is easier for everyone to read in their homes.
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Figure 43: Group picture in BCS College
dining hall, everyone is holding their great, successful and meaningful
certificate with smiles
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Figure 44: Everyone is picking up the
souvenirs for theirselves in BSC College
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Figure 45: Nicola found something
impressive on the table
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Figure 46-47: Two mini handmade houses,
good for decoration.
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Great Experience for Everyone!