Curious about a company powering a greener Hamburg? Hansewerk Natur GmbH is at the forefront of sustainable energy solutions. Right here, in the heart of Hamburg, Hansewerk Natur is working towards a climate-neutral future.
Hansewerk Natur is a regional energy service provider. It focuses on delivering heat, cooling, steam and power. The company is a subsidiary of Hansewerk. It operates across Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Lower Saxony.
Tracing its roots back to 1927, Hansewerk Natur has evolved. It started as a subsidiary of the Hamburger Gaswerke. The company was initially named Norddeutsche Energieagentur NEA. Before that it was Werbestelle f\u00fcr Haus- und Industriegas GmbH. In October 2014, the company was renamed Hansewerk Natur GmbH.
Today, Hansewerk Natur operates around 150 local and district heating networks. These networks span approximately 800 kilometers. In Hamburg, the company manages three major district heating networks. These are in the south, west, and east of the city. The heat is sourced from industrial waste heat. It also comes from combined heat and power plants and heating centers.
These networks supply heat to residential complexes and public facilities. They also supply heat to commercial enterprises. Hansewerk Natur uses heat from combined heat and power. The company uses heat from boilers and solar thermal systems. They use heat pumps and power-to-heat systems. Waste heat from industrial processes like waste incineration is also used.
Notably, Hansewerk Natur conducted a field test. This test involved operating a combined heat and power plant with up to 100 percent hydrogen. The company also offers decentralized energy solutions through contracting models. These include steam, cooling, and power from combined heat and power. Hansewerk Natur is one of the largest operators of decentralized combined heat and power plants in Northern Germany. The company operates over 200 such plants. While most are powered by natural gas, biogas and bio natural gas are also used.
Hansewerk Natur has a clear goal. It aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. The company is reducing energy consumption. It is increasingly using self-generated electricity for its energy conversion plants. Hansewerk Natur is installing 41 photovoltaic systems on roofs and containers.
The company plans to transition its vehicle fleet to electric vehicles by 2025. It will also expand its charging infrastructure. Hansewerk Natur is converting its heating and combined heat and power plants. It will use green technologies like green gas, pellets and heat pumps. Already, 60 percent of Hansewerk Natur’s electricity production is biogas-based.
Hansewerk Natur is committed to expanding combined heat and power. It is also dedicated to expanding heat networks and storage capacities. The company is opening its heat networks to business partners. This allows for the integration of industrial waste heat.
One notable project is the Stellinger Linse residential area. Since 2022, Hansewerk Natur has supplied this area with heat. The heat comes from a bio methane combined heat and power plant. Solar thermal systems also contribute. This reduces CO2 emissions by over 1,200 tons annually.
In Hamburg-Othmarschen, Hansewerk Natur tested a combined heat and power plant. It ran on up to 100 percent green hydrogen. This pilot project demonstrated the feasibility of using hydrogen in existing engines.
Hansewerk Natur bundles 70 of its combined heat and power plants. These plants are located across Northern Germany. This creates a virtual power plant. This helps stabilize the grid. It balances fluctuating electricity from renewable sources.
Hansewerk Natur is not just an energy provider. It is a driver of innovation and sustainability. The company is paving the way for a greener, more efficient energy landscape. Hansewerk Natur ensures that Hamburg remains at the forefront of the energy transition.