The war fuels the demand: connection to the district heating network in Murnau is in great demand

Created: 08/17/2022, 06:42

In the basement of the town hall: Mayor Rolf Beuting (r.) and the technical plant manager Helmut Mair at the transfer station for district heating.

The station is no larger than a standard refrigerator.

© Herpen

After the start of the war in Ukraine, interest in a district heating connection in Murnau increased massively.

The municipality plans to expand the network further.

Murnau

– The gas and heating oil prices are going through the roof, and the next winter is coming as surely as amen in church.

What makes some people frown, others can look to the future with confidence.

District heating is the magic word that has become particularly relevant in the market town of Murnau.

"Our sales representative Vladimir Putin pushed the whole thing forward," said Mayor Rolf Beuting (ÖDP/Citizens' Forum) ironically at a press conference in the town hall.

"It has been shown that we are on the right track with the expansion of the district heating supply in the town center, which we have been operating for several years."

When the old post office, the culture and conference center, the town hall and the building authority were connected a few years ago, the municipal utilities offered the opportunity to connect to the network, such as sour beer, but found little response, the town hall chief recalls.

"After February 24 (the beginning of the war in the Ukraine; editor's note) this question was suddenly settled." from the southeast and the north of the municipality.

"Our district heating is attractively priced, has a high level of security of supply, there is no need for support, nor are there any maintenance and material costs for the heating system," he listed the advantages.

In the planning phase

The municipal utilities are currently in the planning phase together with an engineering office, with connections to several properties on the moat and on the Untermarkt (backwards via Lederergasse) planned for the coming year.

"A majority of those who have expressed interest in the past few months can expect an offer in October or November," Mair said.

However, district heating is “not something that you can quickly build around the corner”, especially since major planning and earthworks are necessary.

"In return, we take care of the first ten meters away from the main line."

Larger residential complexes and apartment buildings in particular are particularly well suited for connection to the district heating network, explained Beuting.

The lines are fed by the boiler system in Kemmelpark, which is operated 75 percent with wood chips and 25 percent with gas or crude oil.

An expansion of the facility, including additional boilers and larger storage areas, is planned, and the proportion of fossil fuels is to be reduced in favor of chopped natural material.

Other regenerative energy sources such as geothermal energy, solar thermal energy and photovoltaics could be added later.

“I am primarily concerned with the topic of the energy transition,” emphasized the mayor.

"It is also important to me that the added value remains in the region." The whole project with the connection of larger areas of the town center,

Georg Miller provides supplies

Georg Miller, managing director of the rural wood chip delivery company from Leibersberg, always makes sure that the stores are filled with natural fuel.

The wood chips are dried in Achrain.

"Murnau has done a lot of things right when it comes to sustainable energy supply," said the farmer, who acts as second mayor of Riegsee, to the daily newspaper.

For example, all five schools in the market and the innovation quarter obtain their heat from the combustion of wood chips.

Further information

Those interested in connecting to district heating can contact Helmut Mair directly on 01 70/2 85 15 41.

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