In a major step for its clean energy goals, the German energy company Enercity is putting the final touches on its new biomass power plant in Hanover’s Stöcken district. This move is a significant part of the city’s plan to stop using coal for power, reports Bioenergy Insight.
When it is running at full capacity, the plant will provide eco-friendly heating to the city of Hanover and a nearby Volkswagen factory.
This new facility is built to take the place of the old coal-powered station in Stöcken. The switch is expected to reduce the city’s carbon dioxide emissions by about 300,000 tonnes every year.
The plant works by burning waste wood to generate both heat and power. A special heat pump captures leftover heat from the plant’s exhaust, using it to warm water for the city’s heating system. This process makes the plant extremely efficient, wasting almost no energy.
Enercity estimates the plant will produce around 500 million kilowatt-hours of heat annually. This will help ensure a stable and sustainable energy supply for local homes and businesses.
