AM – Plauen swimming Pool (1h)
- A very interesting tour of the swimming pool at Plauen.
- This consisted of an old pool (refurbished) with a new modern all purpose pool fit for the 21st Century.
- Work was started around 2007 and completed by 2009 (sauna was the last). A number of renewable technologies were used and showcased including; ground source heat pump, CHP, traditional gas boiler (for top-up and back-up), solar air thermal (on flat roof space) and PV on side of building.
- The basement was a wonderment – a cross between Das Boot and the Star Ship Enterprise. All gleaming pipes with not a single drop of water (leak).
- I think everybody on the tour was impressed by the whole thing from concept to execution and operation.
AM – Management of decentralised renewables solutions (1h)
- 2 fine presentations by 2 people whose names I’ve sadly neglected to note – my apologies to both.
- The first concentrated on how regional policy (Vogtlandkreis) is being influenced by well educated and trained regional renewable energy specialists who look for communal (regional) solutions to increase renewables as part of the overall energy mix. Their speciality is in testing of sites for suitability and advising on feasibility of projects.
- An overview of the regions achievements to date as well as an analysis of where the region is lagging behind their scheduled target. Renewables make up 25% of total energy supply in the region which has an energy need of €400 Million/ pa (for their 250,000 inhabitants). The renewables mix is largely comprised of bio gas with about 50% (from local farms)and another large proportion of wood heat (local woods) and a variety of Solar PV/ Thermal.
AM – M&S Renewables GmbH (Ltd) (20min)
- 2nd presentation was brief due to time constraints and showed how their building was constructed included a technology that I wasn’t familiar with – using active concrete core as a heat reservoir (heat sink). Very interesting….
- The building was built within a year featuring a variety of renewables such as heatpumps, Solar PV, rain water harvesting (for toilets) and the house is nearly carbon neutral
Lunch was at a wonderful place called Schoeneck (at the Ifa Sports Hotel). Had an excellent salmon dish.
PM – A Space Exhibition at Morgenroethe-Rautenkranz - Very interesting break from the usual business. Time to relax and have a little wind-down except for Nick R who had to get some work done.
- Excellent guided tour round the centre by a female employee, very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful.
Wahid Khan
Today was a very practical out-door experience of renewables in various settings, communal swimming pool, commercial building and then the group got to see the space exhibition featuring the exhibition documents of the first experimental flights and rockets. The exhibition covers a wide spectrum encompassing the initial man-made satellites orbiting round the earth, the first Soviets and Americans in space, the moon landing programme, satellites and probes, either close to planet earth or travelling to distant galaxies, and the space stations from the early days to the new International Space Station. It was interesting to see what coordinate effort, a grand vision and the necessary finance, skills and determination can achieve. Unfortunately I couldn't go to the space exhibition as we had to do some work on structuring the next training which will happen in Germany from 1st - 26th November where we will train 10 British professionals on renewables here at Pscherer gGmbH.
Dirk Bischof
