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

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

The ceremonial inauguration of the first open-space solar thermal system in the Dresden district heating network took place on June 16, 2025. Environmental Mayor Eva Jähnigen and Dr. Axel Cunow, CEO of SachsenEnergie, presented the innovative system, which consists of 140 modules and produces 700 megawatt hours of heat annually in the form of hot water. The city is thus setting another example 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, as MeiDresden reports.

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

Innovative technology for green energy

The solar thermal system project began in 2020 and was funded with 1.15 million euros by the National Climate Protection Initiative, while the total costs are 2 million euros. With an output of 1.1 megawatt peak, the system is housed on a 4,000 square meter site. The solar collectors heat water to up to 95 degrees Celsius, which is then fed into the district heating network. What is particularly noteworthy is that the modules are located on a wildflower meadow that is also used as a beekeeping area.

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

Use of solar thermal energy in Germany

The importance of solar thermal energy is constantly growing 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 area and a further 107 megawatts are under construction or planned. By the end of 2025, the total collector area of ​​solar heating networks in Germany could even double, which represents a promising development. However, Dirk Mangold, scientific director of Solites, still sees potential for market growth and emphasizes the need for political support and faster approval processes, which is further promoted by the new heat planning law.

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