Haar is stepping up his efforts in the energy transition. Mayor Andreas Bukowski (CSU) presented ideas for two wind turbines up to 240 meters high, an 18-hectare open-space photovoltaic system and an expansion of the district heating network in the municipal council on Tuesday evening. The municipal utilities are in charge of the projects for which the basic feasibility has only just been checked. According to the town hall, municipal areas are available for a wind power and solar project. Plant manager Rainer Mendel was particularly surprised by the fact that he sees good opportunities for Bayernwerk Natur GmbH to bring CO₂-free district heating from the existing combined heat and power plant in Eglfing via a long-distance line under the railway line and the B 304 to the high-rise settlement in Jagdfeld.
Mayor Bukowski has made the energy transition one of his central topics, although he prefers to talk about converting the community into a circular city, which goes even further and aims for a circular economy at all levels. Bukowski explained this again on Tuesday and emphasized that it is about “not just being climate-neutral”, but also about achieving positive effects for the environment as a municipality.
The Greens in particular have recently asked more and more clearly how this should work. The municipality has little money and recently even considered simply replacing the gas heating in the community center instead of striving for a climate-friendly solution. The town hall has now presented plans for an energy transition triad, which the Greens see as a liberation: Second Mayor Ulrich Leiner opened his statement in the municipal council with the exclamation “Finally!” and called for speedy implementation.
When it comes to district heating, you have to rely on one company
Building on plans that were shelved as a result of the 10-H rule imposed by the Bavarian state government in 2014, the town hall sees opportunities for two wind turbines east of Ottendichl near the motorway, with an area on the northern boundary of the district belonging to the municipality and is looked at more closely. An open-space solar system could also be built on community land near the gravel quarrying area on Höglweg between Salmdorf and Eglfing. The district heating lines would be laid directly south from the sports park, where Bayernwerk Natur operates a combined heat and power plant with biogas and supplies large parts of Eglfing. Municipal works chief Mendel said that Bayernwerk Natur was very interested because many buyers would be developed in the hunting field. The construction of the pipeline could be completed within three years. According to Mendel, it is clear that the decision is not made by the community. “It stands or falls with Bayernwerk Natur.”
The large blocks of flats in Jagdfeld would be ideal recipients of district heating from the biogas power plant in Eglfing.
(Photo: Claus Schunk)
Mendel put the potential heat requirement in the Jagdfeld, which could be tapped via long-distance pipelines, at 26 million kilowatt hours. That is remarkable, because suppliers expect that one kilometer of line construction will pay off for one million kilowatt hours. The investment of 4.8 million euros for 1.6 kilometers of district heating pipeline would therefore be financially feasible. Housing companies such as the Oberbayerische Heimstätte have already expressed an interest in acceptance, said Mendel. The combined heat and power plant at the sports park in Eglfing could supply other customers and an expansion “with a third machine” is conceivable. Should neighboring Vaterstetten implement its geothermal energy plans, Haar would also be prepared and could also dock there with its district heating network.
The plan shows the two areas of the municipality of Haar for a possible outdoor photovoltaic system (in yellow) and a wind turbine (in purple).
(Photo: Municipality of Haar)
The solar park on 18 hectares could in turn produce 22 million kilowatt hours of electricity, which, according to plant manager Mendel, could be used to supply around 50 percent of the 11,000 households in Haar. This would save 7744 tons of CO₂. Two wind turbines would ultimately cover the electricity needs of around 6,000 households with 26 million kilowatt hours each. This means that Haar’s local electricity production is above demand. Mendel sees a plus in the fact that the substation in Aschheim can still absorb electricity. But this is a snapshot. The networks are a limiting factor in the expansion of the power supply.
According to Mayor Bukowski, it has been clarified which areas are available. The market investigation has also been completed, now the designation of areas for electricity production is pending, followed by the award and finally the realization and operation of the systems. Citizens’ cooperatives are a good model. Greens councilor Ulrich Leiner emphasized that he would like “strong participation from our citizens”.