Thannhausen energy district: a role model and testbed for a renewable energy supply for neighbourhoods

The review draft of the ElWG of 11.01.2024 enables new approaches with regard to the communal use of renewable energy. The new possibilities for direct lines (§50 ElWG) and closed distribution grids (§101 ElWG) offer new possibilities for direct, communal and self-determined energy supply for neighborhoods.

Energy communities are currently reaching their limits in terms of optimizing communal consumption through the use of storage technologies due to technical (data availability) and economic (double tariffs) restrictions. Within neighborhoods, direct lines and closed distribution networks can solve these problems.

In the energy quarter in Thannhausen, heat is currently supplied by biomass heating and a direct line system supplies 7 buildings with renewable electricity. The aim of this project is to create the Thannhausen Energy Quarter 2.0 - a climate-neutral quarter that serves as a model and is used as a testbed for new applications in connection with direct lines or closed distribution grids, for example with the integration of a battery storage system.

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Project objectives:

• Understanding the legal framework and the possibilities of direct lines and closed distribution networks in neighborhoods.
• Development of at least 5 use cases for the supply of neighborhoods via direct lines or closed distribution grids.
• Testing of the 2 to 3 most promising use cases in the Thannhausen energy district.
• Achieving a self-consumption rate of 100% in the Thannhausen district through a shared storage system.
• Achieving a system amortization period of less than 15 years.

• Gemeinde Thannhausen
• Energienetze Steiermark GmbH
• Varicon GmbH
• W.E.I.Z. Forschungs & Entwicklungs gGmbH