Three selected projects were once again honoured at this year's STADTWERKE AWARD. The award ceremony took place on 4 September at the VKU VKU-Stadtwerkekongress in Hanover. The STADTWERKE AWARD for holistic role model projects by municipal utilities and municipal companies has been in existence since 2010. Since 2016, the annual prize has been awarded at the VKU Stadtwerkekongress together with the VKU Akademie and the Zeitung für kommunale Wirtschaft (ZfK).
Following a pre-selection by the jury and a subsequent reader vote by the readership of Zeitung für kommunale Wirtschaft (ZfK), the three finalists who had applied with pilot and research projects from the fields of energy management, digitalisation and sustainability were chosen.
VKU Managing Director Ingbert Liebing praised the innovative spirit of the winning projects. They are a „good example of how municipal companies can assert themselves in the dynamically changing energy industry“.
Initiator of the STADTWERKE AWARD and CEO of Trianel GmbH Sven Becker emphasised that the winning projects „impressively combine the needs of their customers with the current challenges and opportunities of the energy sector“.
Stadtwerk Haßfurt GmbH wins the race
First place went to the EU-funded „Pilot project for a Haßfurt energy community - e-CREW“, which was dedicated to generating green electricity.
The aim is to avoid grid bottlenecks in the Lower Franconian district town of Haßfurt, which produces twice as much green electricity as it needs for its 9,000 households and a few large consumers. The aim is to increase self-consumption locally and regionally and thus encourage consumers to rethink their behaviour.
„The main aim is to turn passive consumers into active participants in the local energy system by making informed decisions and taking collective action“, is how the project is described.
Nine to eleven households join together to form ten groups and simulate the utilisation of electricity generation and battery storage capacities. This is intended to optimise energy efficiency and expenditure.
SWM Services GmbH secures second place
A subsidiary of Stadtwerke München GmbH, SWM Services GmbH, came in second place with its „Isarlicht“ project.
The focus of the concept was the expansion of the fibre optic network, in which connections for „smart gateways“ are to be set up at the same time. The fibre optic work, which is necessary anyway, is to be used to install the basement or attic service connection sockets for the digitalisation of the electricity grids. These connections, for example for PV systems or other technical devices with the necessary communication connection, will then be available to metering point operators.
„The project opens up several possibilities in a single step: The fibre optic connection sockets can be used for high-speed internet as well as for e-charging solutions, smart metering and other digitalisation options. The combination of both processes makes sense, saves resources and lays the foundation for further digitalisation options“, summarised the jury.
EWR AG lands in third place
The „Climate Connection“ project by EWR AG from Worms comes in third place. EWR AG offers comprehensive, holistic and digitally supported advice on the challenges of sustainability. It is aimed at local authorities and B2B customers who it would like to accompany step by step towards a sustainable future - from analysing and creating reports to implementing measures.
„Many small and medium-sized companies are already or will be affected by the sustainability reporting obligation in the coming years“, explains the jury, emphasising the topicality of the project. „When resources are scarce, offers such as the Climate Connection can be a suitable point of contact for these companies.“
