Inauguration of the substituting heat facility named "Zur Hexenbrücke" in the city of Bremerhaven
In the heart of Bremerhaven, a new era in sustainable energy began as the city inaugurated the "At the Witch's Bridge" heating plant. The event marked a significant step towards a climate-neutral heat supply and laid the foundation for promising possibilities in expanding hydrogen-ready district heating networks.
Two cuts were made to mark the start of the new plant, signifying the beginning of a more efficient and future-oriented heat supply. The plant, integrated into the district heating network of wesernetz Bremerhaven GmbH, boasts a nominal heat output of 16 megawatts and is expected to significantly improve the city's heat supply reliability.
The new plant, built on a previously unused site at the corner of "At the Witch's Bridge" / Reitkamp, was inaugurated on August 19 in the presence of Gunnar Geise, CEO of swb AG, and Andrea Toense, Bremerhaven's Councillor for Health, Environment, and Climate. Geise expressed satisfaction with the timely and budget-friendly completion of the project, while Councillor Toense was particularly pleased about the development of a municipal heat plan in Bremerhaven.
The new plant is a state-of-the-art hot water boiler system operated with natural gas, ready for H2. It allows for a future admixture of up to 30 percent hydrogen, demonstrating an investment in new technologies and a consideration for partial hydrogen use in the construction of backup heating plants.
The foundation for hydrogen-ready district heating network expansion in Bremerhaven is underpinned by the operational HY.City.Bremerhaven ecosystem, advanced electrolysis research, and strong stakeholder engagement. The regional sustainable hydrogen ecosystem, supported by Energiequelle GmbH and others, has launched, including the city's first hydrogen filling station, which officially opened in 2025.
The delivery of PEM electrolyzers to the Hydrogen Lab Bremerhaven at the Fraunhofer Institute highlights ongoing research into green hydrogen production, which can provide clean hydrogen to local energy networks such as district heating. The presence and involvement of notable figures, including former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, at the opening of hydrogen infrastructure underline strong political will and industrial partnerships catalyzing hydrogen expansion opportunities in Bremerhaven’s energy networks.
Energiequelle intends to replicate the concept demonstrated in Bremerhaven elsewhere, suggesting that the approach is scalable and adaptable for broader hydrogen network expansion, potentially including district heating systems. Future scaling depends on continued investment, research, and favorable policy frameworks supporting hydrogen adoption in urban heat supply.
The old heating plant at Schifferstraße was outdated and structurally obsolete, necessitating replacement. The inauguration of the new heating plant marks an important step towards sustainable and reliable heat supply in Bremerhaven, positioning the city as a frontrunner for hydrogen integration into district heating. The location of the new heating plant offers potential for expanding Bremerhaven's district heating networks, contributing to climate-neutral heat supply.
[1] HY.City.Bremerhaven press release [2] Fraunhofer Institute press release [3] Bremerhaven City Council press release
- The new heating plant, integrated with the district heating network of wesernetz Bremerhaven GmbH, is designed to be hydrogen-ready, signifying a significant interplay between science and technology as it prepares for the future introduction of hydrogen in its operations.
- The city's first hydrogen filling station, officially opened in 2025, is a testament to the city's commitment towards environmental-science, as the station forms part of the regional sustainable hydrogen ecosystem, aiding in the production of clean hydrogen for local use.
- The significant step towards sustainable energy in Bremerhaven's heat supply, the construction of the new heating plant, has attracted the attention of finance, as evidenced by funding and investments that have supported the project, underpinning the industrial partnerships that are driving hydrogen expansion opportunities in the city.