Gigantic project: Rostock's water storage facility will be Europe's largest!

Gigantic project: Rostock's water storage facility will be Europe's largest!

The fact that the Rostock municipal utility company is tackling a large project is currently causing a sensation in the region. It's about the construction of one of the largest hot water storage tanks in Europe on Petersdorfer Straße. This huge project has not only technical but also ecological weight, because the municipal utilities must save 400,000 tons of CO₂ annually by 2035. The goal should be to supply two thirds of the heating systems in Rostock with exclusively “green” heat, which represents a real step into the future.

But what does that mean specifically? The new storage facility, which is currently under construction, will be eleven times larger than the existing storage facility in Marienehe and will be located underground. With an investment sum of one billion euros, of which 250 million euros will be needed within the next four years, the municipal utilities can strengthen a sustainable foundation for domestic heat supply. The federal government is supporting this bold project with 99 million euros, which only underlines the ambitions.

Capacity and utilization of excess heat

The planned seasonal storage facility will be able to store up to 500,000 cubic meters of water and reach temperatures of up to 98 degrees Celsius. This means it can provide a heat capacity of around 33 gigawatt hours, which can ensure Rostock's supply for a month. This is exciting because the municipal utilities are also planning to use waste heat from companies, for example from hard coal-fired power plants. Over 120,000 households in Rostock now receive district heating, and the requirement to connect new buildings is another indication of the certain “click” of the energy transition in the region.

Another highlight of the planning is the expansion of the capacity of the existing pipeline network, which already extends over 400 kilometers. The cooperation with Danpower to supply waste heat from an incineration plant in the Rostock seaport and the integration of planned hydrogen factories is remarkable and shows the great commitment in the industry.

Climate goals on the big stage

A well-coordinated energy system is essential for Germany to be climate neutral by 2045. In this regard, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has carried out comprehensive studies to analyze transformation paths. Analysis taking social and geopolitical developments into account is crucial to driving progress in climate protection. The REMod energy system model is used, which looks at Germany at the federal state level and includes the role of federalism.

The construction of the hot water storage tank and the associated measures fit into the overall picture of the movement towards a climate-neutral energy system in which renewable energies and innovative technologies must go hand in hand. An area of ​​tension that can certainly be resolved if all actors – from the city administration to the companies – pull together. This must be seen together with the consideration of technical CO2 sinks and the analysis of energy exchange within Germany in order to successfully pave the way to climate neutrality.