Stadtwerke Böblingen trains for greater grid efficiency

04.02.2025

Source: E & M powernews

Stadtwerke Böblingen has launched a "SmartHeat" project. The aim is to increase efficiency in the heating networks. To achieve this, installers are also being trained.

Targeted reduction of the flow and return temperatures in the district heating networks in order to save energy and therefore costs. This is the goal that Stadtwerke Böblingen (SWBB) is pursuing with its Smart Heat project. At the same time, the overall performance of the network is to be improved, the Baden-Württemberg utility announced on February 3.

The project focuses on the operation of the respective house stations and their correct setting and maintenance. As part of the project, SWBB has therefore trained installers from the Böblingen district - particularly with regard to setting the specified flow and return temperatures.

Lowering the temperatures in particular leads to significant cost and energy savings. "Of course, care must be taken to ensure that the comfort of the end users is not compromised. This is one of the biggest challenges that we are addressing with Smart Heat," explains Lucas Christner from the Generation Systems team at SWBB and part of the project management team.

The project also includes the further development of control technologies and adjustments to the infrastructure. According to the Böblingen-based company, a key element is monitoring and analyzing the grid to prevent a reduction in supply security as temperatures are reduced.

Böblingen upgrades electricity and heat side

According to the supplier, Smart Heat is also an important step towards municipal heat planning (KWP). The aim is not only to make existing grids more efficient, but also to ensure that new grids can be operated efficiently from the outset when planning and expanding them. This means fewer CO2 emissions and therefore an important contribution to climate protection. "The project could also serve as a model for other cities that also rely on district heating to optimize their energy supply," says Christner.

The municipal council had already decided in 2023 that the city should be climate-neutral by 2035. On this basis, SWBB decided at the end of last year to invest a total of 160 million euros to support the city of Böblingen in achieving its goal.

A large part of the investment will go towards expanding the electricity grids, which SWBB will take over operation of on January 1, 2026. As well as in the decarbonization of the heat supply and thus in the implementation of municipal heat planning. The municipal utilities are planning investments of more than 90 million euros over the next five years.

The shareholders of SWBB are the city of Böblingen with 59 percent and EnBW Kommunale Beteiligungen GmbH with 41 percent.

Author: Heidi Roider