Saarbrücken: The energy concept as the basis for climate protection

Abstract:

The municipal energy utility of Saarbrücken is one of the front-runners in the sector of energy savings and diversification of energy services. Since the early 1980s, the policy of energy efficiency has been pursued in every kind of energy resource. At the beginning of the 1990s, the local energy policy was upgraded with the elaboration of the Energy Study 2005, which aims to reduce the environmental burden of energy supply and use by reducing the CO₂ emissions at least 25% by the year 2005. In consequence, such a far-reaching policy has to tackle a variety of energies and energy services and traffic with a comprehensive approach.  Saarbrücken is also a particularly interesting case study because the local economy has traditionally been based on fossil fuel (particularly coal) extraction and processing. Thus, this outstanding example of a local energy initiative has been selected as a model for the following reasons:

• the setting up of large energy-related financial support programmes;
• the introduction of a direct installation programme for households;  
• the introduction of least-cost planning for trade and industry customers;
• the introduction of variable linear electricity tariffs;
• the vigorous information campaigns;
• the commitment to the promotion of renewable energies;
• transforming the energy utility from an energy supply company into an energy service agency;
• the dissemination of activities inside a number of organisational energy networks.

Concept and aims

The Saarbrücken Energy Company and the municipality began implementing their energy saving strategy as early as 1980. Since the end of the 1980s, the Energy Concept for the Future has embodied the guiding principles that have paved the company’s path to becoming an energy service agency. The key principles have been the energy saving policy, the promotion of renewable energy sources, and the introduction of CHP systems and district heating. The identification and mobilisation of saving potentials led to the initiation of additional information and advisory programmes. Information and consultation programmes are conducted through incentive programmes. In recent years a paradigmatic change in energy supply policy has taken place. In parallel, the Saarbrücken Energy Company has adopted a policy that stopped the use of nuclear energy and promoted the production of electricity in modern CHP stations.

In view of the necessity to step up climate protection policy in order to achieve a CO₂ reduction of at least 25% by the year 2005, the City of Saarbrücken, the municipal utilities, and several research institutes drew up the 1993 Climate Protection Plan and the Energy Study 2005. These policies of the Saarbrücken utilities have coincided with the national political objective demanded by the German Enquete Commission in the Measure for the Protection of the Earth’s Atmosphere, as well as with the aims of the national conservative-liberal government. In consequence, the City of Saarbrücken and the Saarbrücken utilities have taken on the responsibility to act as a pilot project for the whole of the Federal Republic in order to establish a practical test case for the active implementation of energy-efficiency measures and the promotion of renewable energies.

The Energy Study 2005 has been elaborated in co-operation with five technical institutes, and includes a working programme for the analysis of the energy situation and the expected energy savings potentials in different areas. In order to achieve comparability, the study has taken 1987 as the reference year, as it corresponds with the base year of the Enquete Commission. The final energy consumption for the supply area of the Saarbrücken utilities has been determined according to sectors and energies. The study examines the potential for saving in different energy sectors and outlines the steps of an appropriate implementation and marketing strategy. The following components are part of the climate protection policy:

• Improvements of energy efficiency in the applications of light and power consist of a direct installation programme for private households and a newly launched, ‘least-cost planning’ electricity saving project which is supported by the SAVE programme of the European Union.
• Improvements of primary energy use should be affected by the installation of 100 decentralised block, co-generation plants. These isolated, short-distance heat supply networks are able to generate both electricity and heat efficiently via gas-fired co-generation systems. There is also a great variety of plant types ranging from small modules with a capacity of 15 kWel, to large, short distance heat supply networks with a generating capacity of 500 kWel and a thermal output of 700 kW.
• Solar and wind power, as well as biogas, are the exploitable components of renewable energies and the subjects of the ten year Solar Energy Initiative.
• The proposed programmes and measures have been implemented with the help of a well-designed information and publicity campaign. This includes an internal communication concept as well as an external marketing strategy that has transformed into an energy-advice centre for locals.
• Further dissemination is expected from participation in various international co-operation projects and membership in energy-related networks.
• The study concludes that the implementation of the measures would be economically self- supporting. An example of its efficiency is that the residents producing energy from renewable sources can sell that energy to the power company for twice the price that it costs others to purchase it. In addition, the creation of new innovative production and employment would stimulate the process of structural change in a region that, over a long period, faces the decline of traditional industries.

Altogether, the proposed energy concept should lead to an expansion of renewable energy sources, and the improvements in energy efficiency will require a total investment of about 800 million DM. The Saarbrücken municipal utilities would have to share 300 million DM of the cost, and the sum of 500 million DM would have to come from private contributions. The energy gain of successful implementation will result in a decline in energy consumption of approx. 14% between 1987 and 2005 (from 4,700 GWh to 4,000 GWh).

Implementation and future goals

The new Saarbrücken Energy Concept, as well as the energy programmes of the 1980s, are characterised by their many deviations from traditional management styles. Many of the initiatives are still ongoing, and the following achievements of the municipal energy policy in Saarbrücken can be summarised:

• The direct installation programme for households is part of the least-cost planning programme. A key element of this programme is the direct approach to the customer. Vouchers for an energy-saving lamp (Light), including information on energy saving, have been sent to about 100,000 households (50%). By 1995, over 48,000 had already cashed in on the offer. The final energy savings is expected to be 5 million kilowatt hours of electricity yearly, which is tantamount to the energy supply of a small-scale plant. It has been calculated that the city has already saved more from people using the lamps (energy expenditures) than it cost to provide them.
• Least-Cost Planning has been made available for trade and industry. With the assistance of the EU SAVE programme, an energy saving project has been launched which gives trade and industry direct rebates if they use environmentally friendly technology. These technology- specific rebates are for cross sectional technologies such as; motors and engines, lighting, air conditioning and ventilation, refrigeration, compressed air, etc. Furthermore, there are customised rebates which allow the customer to decide on the selection of savings technology. These are mainly used by small and medium scale commercial customers.
• Variable linear electricity tariffs are now offered to every one, as the utility is using a system for energy saving management (SESAM). With this technology it is possible to record electricity consumption at 15-minute intervals. The philosophy is to enable the consumer to get all types of energy-related information which would help him to consume less energy (socket). The latest plan is to introduce a new SESAMplus system which can manage heat and water consumption in private households. Linear electricity tariffs have been introduced in general with a progressive component starting at 6,000 kWh.
• The policy of consumer sovereignty has also been pursued with the introduction of a heat pass. The energy consumption index is particularly useful in dwelling houses, as the tenants get exact information on the costs of electricity. It is expected that consumer power puts the landlords under pressure so that they become more interested in energy restoration.
• Furthermore, financial assistance is offered in order to promote the introduction of environmentally friendly energy supplies. The Saarbrücken Energy Company is providing personal loans in co-operation with local saving and loan institutions. It guarantees credit, and also gives grants if customers convert to natural gas or district heating. A total of 60 million DM of loan funds had been provided, and 52 million was used for financing (e.g., new heating systems, insulation measures). A private customer can get up to 20,000 DM for the implementation of energy and water saving measures. The Saarbrücken expenditures add up to almost 300 DM per person, with its biggest expenditures occurring between 1988-1993 (49.7 million DM).  
• The project of 100 gas-fired CHP package systems is the backbone of the decentralised energy supply. The aim is to install 100 local heating islands by the year 2005, and thus to replace existing electrical heating systems.
• The solar cycle management includes 260,000 square metres of solar-suitable roof surface.
• Saarbrücken has succeeded in implementing two of the largest solar photovoltaic projects in the European Union. The Solar House project (8 kW) started in 1988 as a demonstration model for the solar power from Saarbrücken rooftops. The intention was to encourage people to invest in their own energy supply system.
• The total energy unit is a tandem photovoltaic and block heat power station at the Saarbrücken Innovation and Technology Centre SITZ.
• The photovoltaic highway noise barrier can be regarded as a model for Europe, as it not only abates noise, but also offers 400 m of photovoltaic modules. With everything included, the total costs are still 30% less costly than conventional designs.
• The Saarbrücken utilities are also engaged in the development of wind energy. They have a 25% financial share in the wind park Saar GmbH. The wind park is run by 250 private members and it has a total of 10 units with a peak electricity output of about 4.5 MW (1998).
• Efforts in biomass sources are currently directed at various pilot projects. The generation of biomass by C4-type plants is tested at selected sites. The generation of heat and power in a CHP package system, combined with a biomass gasification system, is currently being tested in a demonstration project financed by the EU.
• Continuous monitoring and recording of energy consumption proved to be an important element of the municipal management. All 270 municipal buildings are registered and classified by a special database system. There are 14 groups of use: swimming pools, kindergartens / youth centres /retirement homes, sport facilities, schools, building yards, fire brigade, cemeteries, transport department, parks and gardens department, cultural buildings (halls / library / zoo), administration buildings, hospitals, municipal properties in third-party use, and unclassifiable miscellaneous buildings. Between 1980 and 1997, CO₂  emissions resulting from energy consumption for heat and power were reduced by 50% in the municipal buildings. The study on energy measurement predicted a further 10% reduction potential by the year 2005.

The utility is running a telephone advice service and an advice centre in the city’s central pedestrian precinct. In addition, a mobile information centre, the Energy Bus, is on site if there are festival activities or markets. Sixty-one percent of the households, and 69% of the tenants, seek advice from the Energy Company on matters of energy efficiency.

Results and Impacts

Although the new Saarbrücken Energy Concept is designed to contribute to environmental improvement by the year 2005, the municipal energy utility already achieved an outstanding environmental record in the 1980s. The following results show the remarkable improvements in the energy balance, and make clear why the city of Saarbrücken was awarded the UN Environmental Prize at the UN Climate Conference in Rio in 1992:

• A CO² emission reduction of 15% was realised between 1990-1996 for the energy and traffic sectors.
• In 1994, Saarbrücken generated over 95% of its own electricity - mainly with environmentally compatible coal-fired CHP stations (in 1980 the share was only 30%).
• The share of piped energies, gas, and district heating is more than 80%.
• Between 1980 and 1989, SO₂ emissions were reduced by 76%, NO_x emissions fell by 34%, and CO₂  decreased by 15% despite the use of coal as the mainstay of energy supply.
• If you compare the CO₂ emissions between 1980 and 1997 for the municipal buildings, the results have been striking. The heating energy consumption and CO₂ emissions fell from 176 GWh (45,100 tonnes CO₂₎ in 1980 to 72 GWh (12,900 tonnes CO₂₎ in 1997. The electricity consumption fell from 20 GWh (23,600 tonnes CO₂₎ in 1980 to 17.4 GWh (20,100 tonnes CO₂) in 1997. Over one-third of the city’s space heating needs are met on a voluntary basis now.
• In 1997, about 50 mostly privately-owned photovoltaic systems were delivering some 250 kWh and 200 kWh of solar energy per annum to the municipal electricity system. The municipal utilities pay their solar power suppliers a fee of 55 pfennigs per kWh.
• The public transport sector contributes to the reduction of emissions as well. For example, the municipal vehicle fleet has converted 40 buses and 200 other municipal cars to natural gas. In the coming years, the rest of the buses will also be converted to natural gas.  
• Since 1980, the number of gas heat customers more than doubled from 12,000 to over 24,000, and the number of district heat customers increased from 7,000 to 21,000.
• The new tram system has been running since October 1997, and is used by more than 25,000 people each day. The ambitious goal is to reduce individual car traffic by 20%.  
• All of these things sustain the rapidly expanding market in non-polluting energy and energy saving devices.

Actors and Structures

The Saarbrücken Energy Company is a combined utility which is providing electricity, gas, district heating, and water. The public utility is 100% owned by the Saarbrücken municipality. Since 1980, the company has transformed itself from an energy supply business into an energy service agency.

International co-operation and network exchanges on the latest energy developments include the involvement in activities of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), the Communities of Europe for Renewable Energies (CERE), the Conseil Solaire Européen, the Club de Paris des Energies Renouvelables, and the network of Energie Cities. Planning aids are given to projects for the introduction of renewable energies like the "Network of excellence," a network of technology leaders in the energy sector which aims to set progressive trends for the development of concepts on renewable energies. Another project is the "Masterplan for the Integration of Renewable Energies in European Regions," which is a working alliance with the Canary Islands and the Greek region of Chalkidiki and which tries to establish similar structures for the introduction of renewable energies. In order to demonstrate the global importance of the issues, the energy utility of Saarbrücken is also sponsoring a project in the Brazilian Amazonas region at the town of Maraba. There a feasibility study on the possibilities of installing small-scale decentralised electricity supply units has been worked out. This study is subsidised by the European Commission.

Finance

In order to fully implement the energy savings scenario of the Energy Study 2005, significant investments totalling 821 million DM are required. The municipal utility alone will account for 319 million DM, whereas the consumers are expected to contribute a sum of 501 million DM in the different energy sectors. The annual investment for the energy utility is 27.1 million DM, and customer investment should be another 42.2 million DM per year. The cost of the 100 CHP plants alone are estimated to require an annual investment of approximately 6 million DM. An overview of the investment requirement predicts the following impacts:

• Solar heat: 137 million DM, of which 105 million DM should come from the utility;
• Photovoltaics: 42.5 million DM, of which 21.3 million DM should come from the utility;
• Bio-mass: 17.4 million DM, which is completely financed by the utility;
• Co-generation systems: 77 million DM, of which 51.9 million DM should come from the utility;
• Electricity savings (including substitution): 285 million DM, with a share of 80 million DM by the utility itself, 104 million DM by private households, 69.7 million DM by small scale consumers, and 31.2 million DM by the industry;

Fuel savings: 262.2 million DM, with a share of 43.7 million DM by the municipal utility, 160 million DM by private households, 40.4 million DM by small-scale consumers, and 18.1 million DM by the industry.

In the sector of renewable energies and co-generation, an accurate classification of the investment by different types of customers is not possible as these areas are determined by the consumer’s motivation and the target group design.

Evaluation and Statements

Willy Leonhardt, the former chairman of the Board of the Saarbrücken Municipal Utilities, and Minister for the Environment, Energy and Transport of the Land of Saarland, stresses that the continuous promotion of environmentally friendly measures requires not only the initiative of the municipal administration and the public utilities, but also a general coalition of attitudes:

CO₂ reduction is a realistic goal, provided an individual sense of responsibility on the part of the local population is united with political and economic intelligence on the part of those responsible in administrations and energy supply utilities. It is also equally clear that local authority effort alone is not enough. (Leonhardt, Willy 1995: p. 30) Energy savings and pollution reduction measures can be achieved with and in spite of reliances upon fossil fuels, even in such a coal producing region as Saarbrücken.  Nevertheless, the CO² reduction goal of 25% may not be met on account of lower fuel prices and freer markets across the EU.  

Source of Information

Personal Communication: Dr. Jürgen Lottermoser (1999).

Klimaschutz-Programm der Stadt Saarbrücken; Amt für Energie und Umwelt, 1993.

Energie-Bericht 1980-1997; Amt für Energie und Umwelt,1998

www.sustainability.org.uk/info/casestudies/saarbrucken.htm Saarbrücken-Easing the Transition from Fossil Fuels

Leonhardt, Willy / Klopfleisch, Reinhard / Jochum, Gerhard 1991: Kommunales Energie-Handbuch. Vom Saarbrücker Energiekonzept zu kommunalen Handlungsstrategien, Karlsruhe

Baumheier, Ralph 1993: Kommunale Umweltvorsorge. Chancen und Probleme präventiver Umweltpolitik auf der kommunalen Ebene am Beispiel der Energie- und Verkehrspolitik, Basel

Leonhardt, Willy 1994: Municipal environmental management using innovative service ideas, in: EA.UE, (ed.) 1994: Ecoenergia. Rational and Renewable Energies for the cities of the future. Report of congress and workshop Milan, June 16th - 19th, 1993, Berlin, pp. 144-148

Stadtwerke Saarbrücken AG (Hg.) 1994: Neue Bausteine zum Klimaschutz: Die Saarbrücker Energiestudie 2005, Tagungsunterlagen zum internationalen Forum an 18. April 1994 in Saarbrücken, Saarbrücken

Leonhardt, Willy 1995: Local authority energy policy for climate protection, in: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, (ed.), Environmental Policy. Local Authority Climate Protection in the Federal Republic of Germany. Building Blocks for Local Authority Climate Protection Strategies, Bonn, pp. 26-30

Lottermoser, Jürgen 1995: Local authority energy management, in: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, (ed.), Environmental Policy. Local Authority Climate Protection in the Federal Republic of Germany. Building Blocks for Local Authority Climate Protection Strategies, Bonn, pp. 52-56

OECD, (ed.) 1995: Urban Energy Handbook. Good Local Practice, Paris

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Saarbrücken :

The City of Saarbrücken is the capital of the Land Saarland, the smallest German Federal State. It has a population of nearly 200,000, and covers an area of 168 square kilometres. It is situated in the Saar Valley along the French border which had been a traditional coal producing region.

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Project was added at 21.06.1996
Project was changed at 05.03.2001

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