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Expensive Green District Heating – An Unplanned Energy Transition Using Hohenmölsen as an ExampleCostly times are coming for the residents of Hohenmölsen. Thanks to the politically mandated energy transition, heating will become about 30 percent more expensive within a few years. Or perhaps even more. This was announced by Mayor Andy Haugk during the presentation of the revised concept for “green district heating” at the 9th meeting of the Committee for Structural Change on 23 March 2026 in Naumburg. The energy transition remains a favorite project, including for the “green” CDU. The goal of many of the leaders driving it is a CO₂-neutral Germany. In other words, a Germany that manages its energy supply without emitting CO₂ by 2045. So far, this has cost citizens around 500 billion euros. What has been achieved is that roughly 50% of electricity is now generated from “renewable energy.” Electricity accounts for about 20% of total energy demand. In other words, after spending 500 billion euros, roughly 10% of the overall energy supply has been converted to “green.” That leaves about 90% still to go—and it will probably not cost merely 4.5 trillion euros. Citizens can see the “success” of this energy transition on their electricity, gas, and heating bills, as well as in the prices of diesel and gasoline. The Original Plan for “Green District Heating” in Hohenmölsen Has CollapsedThe plan had been to switch from using the waste heat of lignite-fired power generation to the waste heat from hydrogen production in the area of the still active open-pit mine. The idea was to produce green hydrogen from green electricity. However, MIBRAG has put this project on hold. Despite a subsidy of 90 million euros, the production of green hydrogen would not have been economically viable. There are no buyers for this green hydrogen. Producing hydrogen from natural gas remains significantly cheaper.Hohenmölsen is therefore faced with the problem of securing its district heating supply in another way. The proposed changes to the concept stipulate that “at least 30%” of district heating will come from wind and solar energy from the mining area and the post-mining landscape. The remaining 70% of the energy demand is to be generated from gas. For this purpose, a large heat pump and a new combined heat and power plant are to be built. However, heat pumps only operate efficiently down to around 5 degrees Celsius. At temperatures below that, heating must more or less revert to conventional methods. It has therefore become clear in Hohenmölsen that heating solely with wind and sun is obviously not feasible. Mayor Andy Haugk explained that gas will be relied upon in the future. What kind of gas that will be, he does not know. The power plant could burn any form of gas—hydrogen, natural gas, or biogas. Critics would probably now ask where this gas is supposed to come from. Green hydrogen is too expensive to produce, there will hardly be enough biogas available, and natural gas is something people do not want any later than 2045 because the goal is CO₂ neutrality. Mayor Andy Haugk did not want to look that far into the future. The large heat pump and the heating plant are expected to be operational in 2031. When Cheap Green Energy Drives Prices UpUntil about a year ago, around 50 million euros had been planned for the green district heating project. A few months ago, the figure had already risen to 66 million euros. And now it is just under 69 million euros. But that is not the end of the story. According to the concept from the end of last year, prices for residents of Hohenmölsen are expected to rise to more than 20 cents per kWh when the system goes into operation in five years. Currently, they are around 15 cents per kWh. In addition to the price increases caused by political regulations in recent years, another 30% will therefore be added on top.Sven Jähnig (AfD) strongly criticized this project. He asked whether the price for the citizens of Hohenmölsen would be higher than today or whether it was intended to remain “the same as now.” Mayor Andy Haugk responded: “The same as now is an illusion!” For him, the only relevant factor is whether district heating prices in Hohenmölsen will be at a level similar to market prices for heating with heat pumps, for example, so that district heating does not lose customers. It is therefore not the mayor’s claim or goal to keep prices at their current level or to bring them down again. During the meeting, he did not have the projected figure of well over 20 cents per kWh from the concept of late last year in mind, although this figure is certainly highly relevant for residents. Sven Jähnig also criticized that a well-functioning system had been turned upside down due to political will and mandates, and he referred to the current geopolitical situation. There is always a dependency on energy sources, and even decision-makers at MIBRAG do not deny that it makes little sense to phase out lignite at the present time. Andy Haugk pointed out that he does not set the legal framework. Moreover, the mining company had changed its mining plans, making the end of lignite in our region foreseeable even before 2034 or 2035. Sven Jähnig added that the mining company’s reaction was a consequence of political requirements. He said: “Changing things that are wrong—that is why we entered politics. Or we keep doing things as before and then live with the consequences.” The discussion was cut short at this point by the chairwoman, Elke Simon-Kuch (CDU). I would have liked to ask a question but was not allowed to do so. Ms. Elke Simon-Kuch (CDU) explained: “You are a guest. That is very nice. The committee members and the official guests of the committee may, so to speak, ask questions. But the public should simply listen.” These and all further remarks can be found in the video above. Author: AI-Translation - Michael Thurm | |
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