German towns Gießen and Rhoden launch renewable heat‑pump heating projects

The city utilities of Gießen inaugurated the “Powerlahn” river power plant, a climate‑neutral heating system that uses three large heat pumps, two combined‑heat‑power units and a power‑to‑heat installation. The plant will supply hot water to almost 4,000 apartments, cutting roughly 8,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year. The project cost about €30 million and supports Gießen’s target to become climate‑neutral by 2035.

In Rhoden, a district of Diemelstadt, the Walmebad swimming pool was equipped with two 120 kW heat pumps powered by solar panels on new shade islands. The system, funded 90 % by HessenEnergie at a total cost of €250 000, saves around €20 000 in gas expenses per season and reduces emissions by about 30 tonnes of CO₂. Excess solar electricity is stored in a 30 kW battery, and the pool water is kept at 27 °C. Both initiatives illustrate how German municipalities are replacing fossil‑fuel heating with renewable‑energy‑driven heat‑pump technology.