Biomass Strategy for Climate Protection – Innovative Approaches for the districts of Kiel, Plön and Rendsburg-Eckernförde in Northern Germany

Kiel, the capital of the federal state Schleswig-Holstein, forms the “KielRegion” together with the districts of Plön and Rendsburg-Eckernförde. The common aim is to build up a greenhouse gas-neutral energy supply by 2045. The transition processes for the heating supply poses a challenge to this transformation process. According to the climate protection goals of the EU, the German government and the federale state, the buildings should be almost climate-neutral by 2045.

Project Objectives

The aim of the “Biomass Strategy KielRegion” is to investigate what impact biomass can contribute to a climate-neutral building and industrial sector. First assessments have shown particulary for the rural districts of Rendsburg-Eckernförde and Plön, a potential for biomass in the form of manure and slurry, agricultural-industrial residues (e.g. from food production), biowaste, sewange sludge, but also fresh wood. There is as well waste wood and other biomass that can be used to generate energy.

Project Design

The holistic and participating approach of the project offers the chance to analyse the urban-rural relationship in the KielRegion for concrete energetic potentials and to identify economical, ecological and environmentally friendly utilisation. The use of regional organic residues, in particular from fractions that have not yet been used or that are technically difficult to use, will play a decisive role in the project. Conflicts with food production and protection of environment, ecosystems and soil, will be taken into account and will be immediately discussed with various interest groups such as agricultural sector as well as environmental and nature conservation organisations. The biomass strategy shall be mainstreamed within a regional biomass network by project end.

Project Partner