The German Viessmann Group, one of the leading manufacturers of heating and cooling technology, offers bioenergy village cooperatives their own turnkey systems for renewable district heating. These communities are required to cover 100 % of their electricity demand and at least 50 % of their heating demand by renewable sources. On average, bioenergy villages have between 1,200 and 1,500 inhabitants, who establish a cooperative owning and operating the renewable district heating network, as well as the heat and power generators. According to a study by the German Klaus Novy Institute, the trend towards sustainable energy supply independent of fossil fuels has led to around 800 of these co-ops being set up in Germany over the past few years. All in all, they have invested over EUR 1.5 billion, and more than 100 of them chose to install renewable district heating systems. The photo shows the special vacuum tube collectors suited for large fields. These collectors are of simple design and have a wide DN50 steel header pipe incorporated into the manifolds.
Photo: Viessmann