Future project NEKOM: Heinsberg and Roetgen realize energy transition

Future project NEKOM: Heinsberg and Roetgen realize energy transition

in the Eifel, specifically in the cities of Heinsberg and Roetgen, a future -oriented project for municipal energy distribution is launched, which could serve as a model for many other municipalities. Together with the University of Duisburg-Essen, RWTH Aachen has taken over the lead over the project called Nekom, which stands for sustainable storage and energy distribution systems. The Ministry of Economics, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the future agency Rheinische Revier have provided a sum of one million euros for the implementation. This is to fundamentally create a new infrastructure for dealing with renewable energy sources.

Heinsberg Mayor, Kai Louis, reports on the decision to vote for the city as model municipality. The focus of the project is on the development of concepts for the use of excess electricity, which primarily comes from wind and solar energy. This innovative approach is considered necessary, especially in rural areas and smaller cities, since the production of electricity is increasingly decentralized. So far, electricity production was mainly focused on large power plants; Now the view is aimed at the possibilities that the country offers with its areas for wind and photovoltaic systems.

Integration of renewable energies

One of the basic ideas behind Nekom is the question of how excess, environmentally friendly electricity can be saved and used efficiently. It is crucial to adapt the existing infrastructure of cities and municipalities. However, the project is not limited to the technical feasibility. The aspect of social acceptance also plays a central role. The scientists involved examine which measures for new storage and distribution systems are well received by the population and how possible fears or reservations can be cleared.

The city of Heinsberg and the local network operator Alliander are closely working with the RWTH Aachen for the practical implementation of the storage solutions. The first step in this cooperation is to identify electricity and heat surpluses and to plan their later use. A typical example is the use of battery storage in connection with residential photovoltaic systems. "If the PV system is produced more electricity during the day, this current can be saved, for example to load electric cars in the evening," explains Louis. This not only relieves the network, but also allows active energy use.

Another innovative example includes the conversion of excess electrical energy into heat or hydrogen. During the best production times, if the electricity requirement is low, hydrogen generates by electrolysis, which can later be used for heating or industrial processes. This flexibility in use makes the storage of energy much more efficient.

potential for other municipalities

The results from the investigations under the NEKOM project should not only benefit Heinsberg, but also serve as guidelines for other municipalities. It is planned to develop concrete recommendations for action that facilitate cities and municipalities to recognize their potential and become active. Mayor Louis is convinced: "The potential for Heinsberg and the Alliander Netz Heinsberg is great. A well thought -out placement of energy storage could help reduce the network expansion and still keep up the quality of care."

In the context of comprehensive urban planning, the early inclusion of the storage systems is therefore of greater value. The positive effects of close cooperation between municipalities, science and the economy could have far -reaching effects on future energy distribution systems.

A step into the future of energy distribution

The initiatives that Heinsberg and Roetgen take as part of the NEKOM project could actually raise a pioneer for the entire region and beyond. While many cities have difficulty modernizing their energy concepts, Heinsberg and Roetgen show how intelligent integration of renewable energies can work. The success of this project will not only advance energetic self -sufficiency, but could also open a new chapter in the discussion about the acceptance of the energy transition.

The development of energy storage technologies has received remarkable progress in recent years. Above all, the costs for batteries used to store excess energy have dropped significantly. According to an analysis by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the prices for lithium-ion batteries, which are often used in electric cars and inpatient energy storage systems, have fallen over 85 percent since 2010. This has not only increased the economic feasibility of projects such as NEKOM, but also improved the acceptance of the technologies in the general public.  International Energy Agency

In addition, a study by Bloombergnef has shown that global investments in renewable energies and associated storage technologies in 2021 have reached a record level of $ 291 billion. This indicates that the energy transition is promoted not only in Germany, but globally, which promotes a variety of innovative solutions and approaches that can also be used in local projects such as NEKOM.  Bloombergnef

Integrative approaches to increase in acceptance

As part of the NEKOM project, the acceptance of the new technologies is a central topic. Research shows that citizens often have concerns about the visibility and integration of energy storage systems in their living environment. In order to counteract these concerns, the project pursues an integrative approach in which local communities are actively involved in the planning processes. Surveys and public discussions are essential components to promote understanding and support for the project.

A good example of this are projects in Denmark, where community energy use was successfully implemented. Citizen participation and transparency in the planning phases were highly prioritized there, which led to a broad acceptance of the wind turbines and storage systems. Such examples offer valuable lessons for the implementation of similar projects in Germany.