1,500 tonnes of CO₂ savings per year
- Decarbonisation: Together with the city of Böhlen and two housing cooperatives, GETEC is transforming the local heating network from lignite to renewable energy.
- New energy centre: A modern plant featuring pellet boilers and a heat pump (total capacity of 3,600 kW) will supply around 980 residential units and eight public buildings – saving approximately 1,500 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
- Climate-neutral by 2045: Supported by Germany’s BEW funding programme, the project is designed to deliver legally compliant, climate-neutral heat supply in the long term and includes the modernization of around three kilometres of district heating infrastructure.
Böhlen, Saxony, May 19, 2026 – Together with the city of Böhlen, the housing cooperative Böhlen eG and Wohnungsbau-Genossenschaft Kontakt e.G., GETEC is driving forward the transformation of the local heat supply. The aim is to decarbonise the existing district heating network and ensure a climate-neutral supply for residential, commercial and public buildings in the long term.
As part of the project, the current heat supply system – previously connected to the Lippendorf lignite-fired power plant – is being fundamentally restructured. Parts of the network date back to the 1970s, while the existing generation plant was built around 1990 and later supplemented with an oil-fired boiler for redundancy. GETEC will take over operation and gradually transform the existing infrastructure. The heating network will be modernised during ongoing operations to meet the requirements of municipal heat planning.
New energy centre at the core of the system
At the heart of the new infrastructure is the construction of a modern energy centre combining pellet boilers and a heat pump. The system is fully based on renewable energy – primarily biomass from wood pellets and electricity for heat pump operation – and is designed to deliver a legally compliant, climate-neutral heat supply by 2045.
In parallel, the network will be future-proofed through the refurbishment of approximately three kilometres of district heating pipelines.
With an installed capacity of 3,000 kW (three pellet boilers at 1,000 kW each) and 600 kW (heat pump), the system ensures a reliable and efficient heat supply. Overall, the new solution will reduce emissions by around 1,500 tonnes of CO₂ per year. The infrastructure will serve an area of 58,500 m², supplying approximately 980 residential units and eight public buildings. The project is supported by the Federal Funding Programme for Efficient Heating Networks (BEW).
Driving the local energy transition
“With the transformation of the heat supply in Böhlen, we demonstrate how existing infrastructure can be decarbonised step by step and transitioned into a sustainable future,” says Dr Guido Zimmermann, CEO of GETEC Germany. “Together with our partners, we are creating an integrated, climate-friendly solution that ensures long-term security of supply and makes a meaningful contribution to the energy transition at municipal level.”
The project partners also underline the importance of collaboration:
“This project clearly demonstrates how municipalities and the housing sector can jointly take responsibility for a climate-friendly energy future,” says Dietmar Berndt, Mayor of Böhlen.
As part of the project, GETEC is responsible for the planning, construction and operation of the energy generation facilities and related infrastructure – including the local heating network, building substations and control systems. This ensures an efficient, integrated and economically viable heat supply in the long term.
About GETEC
GETEC is Europe's leading specialist for reliable, decarbonised energy and infrastructure solutions. With more than 3,100 dedicated employees at around 50 locations, we leverage our engineering, regulatory, and sustainability expertise to help our industrial and real estate customers navigate the complexities of the modern energy landscape while significantly reducing their carbon footprint. Operating over 11,000 plants, the company has a broad decarbonised technology offering. GETEC develops, finances, and runs critical energy infrastructure and industrial parks across Europe through its regional platforms in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Benelux, Austria and Poland.
