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Failed power plant in Nuremberg-Gerbersdorf: race against frost
Photo: Daniel Karmann / dpa
After the fire in a large power plant, people in some Nuremberg apartment blocks have to endure only 10 to 15 degrees.
A total of 15,000 people in the Gebersdorf and Röthenbach districts will only have limited heating.
The energy supplier N-Ergie reduced the heat output because the power plant failure meant that the supply of district heating was only possible to a limited extent, said N-Ergie CEO Josef Hasler.
The city of Nuremberg declared a disaster.
The residents are burdened several times, said Nuremberg mayor Marcus König.
Because of the pandemic, a lot of lessons and work are taking place at home, the CSU politician spoke of a "disaster in the event of a disaster".
He doesn't want to force anyone to leave his apartment.
The city administration organizes help for the affected citizens, however, if the failure should last longer.
So for people who want to stay somewhere else temporarily, 2,000 to 3,000 beds have been organized in hotels.
The accommodation offers subsidized by the city and innkeepers should be available for 40 euros per night.
Anyone fleeing the cold there or staying with relatives is not violating the Bavarian Corona Ordinance, King promised.
Less hot water should be used
Meanwhile, those responsible are worried about the forecast minus degrees in the double-digit range.
"The dilemma is of course that we expect even lower temperatures in the next few days, down to minus 15, 18 degrees," said N-Ergie boss Hasler.
"At the current five degrees Celsius we would have no problem."
N-Ergie has already reduced the district heating output in more than a dozen high-rise buildings, in business parks and shopping centers.
All other district heating customers in the affected area are requested to turn their heating down themselves in order to avoid disconnection of the network.
Hasler announced that he would be reducing the heat output in the apartment blocks by the hour - and also called on residents to use little hot water.
He promised: "We will do everything we can to maintain the heat supply."
The Franconian power plant caught fire on Monday evening for an unexplained cause.
The fire brigade was able to put out the fire after about five hours with up to 120 emergency services.
Until then, however, it had caused considerable damage in the affected boiler house in unit one of the power plant.
Hasler said it will take some time before the power plant can be fully operational again.
"I'm assuming that this won't be fixed within the next 14 days."
According to Hasler, there is currently a lack of around 15 to 18 megawatts of power that has to be compensated.
Several large companies have agreed to forego five megawatts.
The remaining gap of ten to 13 megawatts is to be closed by mobile heating systems.
At the same time, seven megawatts in the form of gigantic heating devices operated by diesel engines have already been acquired.
The container-sized devices of the Münchner Stadtwerke should be able to be connected to the network in the evening, with the Steag one is in discussion with another energy supplier.
Hasler said it was "looking relatively good" with the rapid establishment of replacement care.
However, it is questionable whether this will be enough if the temperatures continue to drop.
Those responsible are therefore now setting priorities for the heat supply.
Two old people's facilities in the affected districts and a hospital are to be supplied separately in the next few hours.
Only then did the residential units follow.
"We protect the old and the infirm from the healthy," Hasler explained the procedure.
Heat secured for clinics and old people's homes
"So far, the district heating supply has been secured at all times, and our regular clinic operations are still guaranteed," says the Sana Clinic meanwhile.
In order to continue to secure the supply, a mobile heat supply will also be set up there.
The city administration informs the affected citizens with notices and letters in the mailboxes.
She also warned of other ways to get the apartment warm: "If you are affected: Please do not use any dangerous heat sources such as open fire, grills or red light lamps as an alternative." .
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apr / AFP