On behalf of the Metropolitan Region of Central Germany, the ILK Dresden was part of a consortium for the preparation of the study "SEETHERMIE - Innovative Heat Supply from Surface Mining Lakes". The study specifically dealt with the extraction of thermal energy from lake water using vacuum liquid ice technology for a future quarter at Lake Zwenkau. The result of the engineers and scientists shows that this new technology can be used both economically and in an environmentally friendly way.

Vacuum liquid ice technology is much more efficient than conventional heat pumps.

According to the study, the lakes of the Leipzig Neuseenland and other flooded opencast mines alone have the potential to provide about 4 gigawatts of thermal energy for local heating. Above all, however, this study is a concrete guide for municipalities and investors, because it confirms that the process can be approved in principle. It thus offers a direct value-added impetus on the subject of the heat transition - especially for the central German mining region, which is facing major challenges due to the lignite phase-out.

The technology developed by the ILK Dresden was awarded the eku - ZUKUNFTSPREIS by the Saxon State Ministry for Energy, Climate Protection, Environment and Agriculture.

Link Shortcut-Study: "SEETHERMIE"