German Economy Minister Visits Berlin Pilot for Electric Heating Innovation

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck visited a Berlin apartment building to inspect a new initiative by Vonovia and decarbon1ze aimed at reducing wind energy curtailment. This pilot project installs electric immersion heaters in water storage tanks to utilize surplus renewable electricity and lower gas consumption.

The project benefits from a new legal framework that supports using surplus renewable electricity instead of curtailing it, potentially reducing emissions and energy costs. The initiative could be scaled to greater regions in Germany, providing significant environmental and economic gains.

Vonovia's CEO, Rolf Buch, emphasized the project's alignment with their climate goals, aiming for climate-neutral buildings by 2045. Decarbon1ze's technology ensures precise control and billing for the electricity used, enhancing cost-effectiveness.

This pilot is a crucial step towards integrating more renewable energy into the grid and addressing overproduction without resorting to expensive redispatch strategies. The trial period of this new law begins in October 2024.

Stakeholders believe this project will serve as a model for further implementations across Germany, aiding the transition to a more sustainable energy system.