A big step towards improving the CO2 footprint – WIKUS puts local heating pipeline into operation

In 2021, the Energy Management team had started work on creating a more efficient heating and ventilation concept at the headquarters in Spangenberg – now the local heating pipeline has been completed as the first subproject. WIKUS has thus made great progress on its way to reducing the use of fossil fuels.

Spangenberg, 7 February 2022: The local heating pipeline, which was completed in January 2022, was built as a connection between two production halls. It is scheduled to go into operation in February 2022 and will replace the boilers previously fueled with natural gas. The thermal energy will then be transported from the central heating system to another hall to provide heating and hot water. The buried pipelines are encased in thick insulation to ensure that as little energy as possible is dissipated to the outside. A plastic outer skin protects the pipes from damage.

The project was planned by the TGA planning office Ulrich + Seeger GmbH from Hessisch Lichtenau, which specializes in energy efficiency, in cooperation with the architectural office Tollhopf from Melsungen.

“We would like to thank all those involved and especially the dedicated project team for their excellent teamwork. By building the local heating pipeline, we are setting an example and manifesting our holistic strategy for pursuing climate protection goals. We are starting with our core process by transferring thermal energy from waste heat to other halls and areas via the local heating pipeline,” says Theresa Leßig, energy manager at WIKUS.

The completion of the local heating pipeline is a first major step in the heating and ventilation concept, which enables the buildings to be supplied with a considerably reduced use of fossil fuels. In the course of the year, the concept envisages the initiation of further subprojects to improve the CO₂ footprint of WIKUS. For example, the team is currently analyzing the potential generated by waste heat from machines and systems and is considering the use of a heat pump. In the long term, the waste heat generated by the compressors used in production will be used to heat the production halls. In the past, the concept of waste heat utilization has already been implemented in a production hall.

If it is successful in harnessing the waste heat for all production halls and integrating it into the central heating system, WIKUS will be much closer to implementing its holistic strategy for pursuing climate protection targets. Completing the local heating pipeline is a key step in this direction.