In times of rapidly increasing energy prices, independence from gas and oil is the dream of many homeowners.

This dream can soon be realized in Walldorf.

In cooperation with Bürgerenergie Rhein-Main eG (Bermeg), the city is planning a thermal power station between the town hall and the police building, which will be operated partly with wood chips and partly with solar energy.

The model project should by no means remain unique.

A similar system is planned for the Mörfelden district, and the system that has just started in Walldorf can also be expanded.

The idea of ​​becoming independent of gas and oil supplies with such a plant was born seven years ago.

Finally, on Thursday, the groundbreaking ceremony for the central heating system took place, and the first houses are to be supplied with heat by September.

Communal heating is cheaper

The system is called “Walldorf Warmth District” and, according to Mayor Thomas Winkler (Die Grünen), is a pilot project not only for Mörfelden-Walldorf and the district of Groß-Gerau, but also beyond.

In a first step, seven municipal buildings along Okrifteler Straße will be connected to the system.

Otherwise, the city would have had to spend 600,000 euros there for the renovation of the heating systems.

These include the town hall, a youth center, two daycare centers, the fire station, the building yard and a residential building with around 50 residential units.

If these buildings are all connected to the system, around 350 tons of CO2 will be saved per year, the mayor calculated.

And the energy supply will be in the hands of the citizens in the future, because more than 300 people have now taken part in the Bermeg, with their deposits, those with 2,

For the residents whose houses are connected to the new energy system, it will initially appear to be slightly more expensive than heating with oil or gas.

However, since this energy is becoming more and more expensive, the house owners no longer need their own heating and save the costs for its maintenance and the chimney sweep, it will even become cheaper in the medium term to heat together with wood and sun.

The fact that solar energy is also used has its origins in climate change.

Three years ago, during a heavy storm, the roof of the neighboring town hall was so badly damaged that it had to be completely renewed.

With foresight, connections for the approximately 400 square meter solar system were created at the time.

Thomas Otterbein from the Bermeg board of directors therefore assumes that solar energy alone is sufficient to generate hot water in the summer months.

Citizens from outside can also participate

City council leader Franz-Rudolf Urhahn was pleased that the project was carried through all political constellations unchanged, because 15 years ago there were first considerations to make the double city less dependent on fossil fuels.

Parts of the network were therefore bought back from the established energy suppliers in order to generate energy themselves.

The Bermeg, whose board is currently still working on a voluntary basis, is expanding its radius, as Otterbein said.

Due to the merger with the Ried energy cooperative, it is already active in the south of the Groß-Gerau district, but wants to expand its radius of action to other municipalities that are interested in such projects.

Citizens, even if they live outside the Groß-Gerau district, can participate in Bermeg with a minimum investment of 2000 euros.

They then receive four shares for 400 euros, and 1,600 euros go into a subordinated loan that will be repaid in full after 20 years.

During this time there is an annual interest payment.

Founded ten years ago, Bermeg plans to install a second boiler once the filing is complete.

There is enough space.

Then the neighboring police station will also be connected, as will the clubhouses along Okrifteler Straße and other residential buildings.

In Mörfelden, the project is to be implemented around the fairground and Schubertstrasse and Bamberger Strasse.