Climate Protection from the Depths: Neustadt Harvests the Power of the Sea
In Neustadt in Holstein, a coastal town on the Baltic Sea, a new urban quarter is being developed. It will feature residential and commercial areas along with a promenade. Commissioned by Stadtwerke Neustadt, Averdung Ingenieure & Berater GmbH took the task of equipping this quarter with a sustainable and efficient energy supply. Faced with high standards for both efficiency and sustainability, Averdung and the municipal utility sought a partner capable of realizing this supply through seawater source heat pumps using Baltic Sea water.
Challenge
The energy provision had to be both efficient and sustainable, covering the entire urban quarter. What was needed was a technology that could continuously provide both heating and cooling, while also fitting into an economically viable master plan—with demanding technical specifications and financial constraints.
Solution
After a competitive tender, Xylem was selected as the preferred partner. Acting as a general contractor, Xylem managed the planning, shaft installation, pumping technology, plant construction, and UV and ozone treatment of the seawater. The sea heat pump leverages the stable temperature of the Baltic Sea: in winter, heat is extracted for building heating; in summer, the seawater is used for cooling the buildings. A close collaboration with the runner-up in the tender underscores long-term partnerships and future joint ventures. Despite initial challenges, Xylem delivered a tailored solution that was technically sound and economically convincing.
Outcome
Commissioning is scheduled for June 2025. The innovative seawater heat pump enables an efficient, lowCO₂ supply of heating and cooling. In addition, the system will function as a public showroom, making the technology and its potential tangible. This project serves as a model of sustainable urban development, demonstrating how, through the teamwork of Stadtwerke Neustadt, Averdung Ingenieure & Berater GmbH, and Xylem, environmentally friendly and reliable energyfuture solutions can be achieved.
