Dresden's solar power: New solar thermal system brings greenhouse gas -free warmth!

Dresden's solar power: New solar thermal system brings greenhouse gas -free warmth!

Räcknitz, Deutschland - On June 16, 2025, the ceremonial inauguration of the first open-air solar thermal system took place in the Dresden district heating network. Environmental Mayor Eva Jähnigen and Dr. Axel Cunow, board member of Saxony energy, presented the innovative complex, which consists of 140 modules and produces 700 megawatt hours of heat in the form of hot water every year. The city thus sets another sign for the energy transition in Dresden. The district heating generated by the system is greenhouse gas-neutral and is fed directly into the district heating network, such as [Meidresden] (https://www.meidesden.de/dresden/gruene-waerme-aus-der-sonne-solarthermie-in-dresden- Incited)

This solar system is a central part of the city's integrated energy and climate protection concept, which aims at the decarbonization of district heating. The path to a more sustainable heat supply is clear: until 2030, heating operators must gain at least 30% and even 80% of their net heat generation from renewable energies by 2040. Saxon energy has ambitious plans to generate the entire district heating in Dresden from non -fossil, green energy sources by 2035.

innovative technology for green energy

The project for the solar thermal system started in 2020 and was funded by the national climate protection initiative with 1.15 million euros, while the total costs are 2 million euros. With an output of 1.1 Megawattpeak, the system is housed on a 4,000 square meter site. The solar collectors heat water up to 95 degrees Celsius, which is then fed into the district heating network. It is particularly noteworthy that the modules are on a wildflower meadow that is also used as a beekeeper area.

The decarbonization plan includes several innovative approaches, such as the planned use of waste heat from the data center of the TU Dresden as well as wastewater and river water heat pumps for further heat generation. An expansion of the large -scale heat storage is intended to help optimize the district heating network. In addition, thermal waste recycling and the use of hydrogen in power plants are planned as further steps to CO2 neutrality.

use of solar thermal in Germany

The importance of solar thermal energy is growing steadily in Germany. On May 30, 2024, the Steinbeis Research Institute Solites published its latest project map, which shows that there are already 58 solar thermal systems in heating networks with a total output of 114 megawatts. In addition, 13 collector fields with 153,000 square meters of collector and another 107 megawatts are under construction or in planning. By the end of 2025, the entire collector area of ​​solar heating networks in Germany could even double, which is a promising development. However, Dirk Mangold, scientific director of Solites, still sees potential for growing market and emphasizes the need for political support and faster approval processes, which is also promoted by the new heat planning law.

heating networks, such as those used in Dresden, offer an excellent approach to combining different renewable heat sources. Their efficiency is increased by larger producer units and the coupled electricity-heat deployment system. This not only ensures sustainable heat supply, but also efficiently integrates the use of waste heat into the system. In metropolitan areas, heat networks are becoming increasingly important for renewable heat supply, such as fvv.