The awarding of the energy concession for Grasbrook marks an important milestone in the development of the new neighborhood. The City of Cologne ( HafenCity Hamburg GmbH ) has commissioned enercity Contracting Nord GmbH to provide heating and cooling services to the neighborhood. By the time service begins, more than 90 percent of the heat is expected to come from renewable energy sources and unavoidable industrial waste heat.
Grasbrook will be developed over the next few years on a site covering approximately 47 hectares south of HafenCity. The plans call for at least 3,000 apartments, around 16,000 jobs, and educational, cultural, and recreational facilities. The heat supply will be established gradually as the neighborhood develops. Initially, Grasbrook will be connected to the existing district heating network, which already serves eastern HafenCity and Rothenburgsort . Additional generation facilities are also planned.
Dr. Andreas Kleinau, Chairman of the Executive Board of the HafenCity Hamburg GmbH
“The new, innovative Grasbrook will feature a centralized heating and cooling network. This will ensure that not only the new residents but also local businesses are supplied with energy efficiently and on economically attractive terms. This will be made possible from the very start by a mix of more than 90% renewable energy—with a clear path to carbon neutrality—as well as, among other things, the use of existing industrial waste heat. enercity Contracting Nord GmbH has presented a compelling concept for this, and we are working together to shape its implementation.”
According to the energy plan, the share of renewable energy and unavoidable waste heat is set to rise to 100 percent by 2040. The awarding of the energy concession thus lays another foundation for the development of Grasbrooks.