Solar energy shifting drastically, achieving 70% adoption within a two-year span.
In the heart of Hesse, a solar revolution is underway. On September 20, 2025, the 'Solar Village' in Bracht was inaugurated, marking a significant step towards sustainable energy and climate protection.
The Solar Village, spanning over 12,000 square meters, is home to a solar thermal power plant that will connect around 200 buildings, supplying approximately 200 connected properties with solar heat. This ambitious project, spearheaded by the BürgerEnergie Bracht eG, is expected to meet Bracht's climate protection targets for 2045, without the need for expensive and complex insulation and renovation measures on the houses.
Prof. Taco Holthuizen of the Berlin University of Technology believes that the optimization of building and home technology can often lead to reduced investments and energy costs. He commends the project in Bracht, stating that the combination of solar thermal systems with ground source heat pumps can cost-effectively store solar heat for winter and provide passive cooling for building climate control in summer.
The solar plant in Bracht is equipped with thermal solar collectors, which increase the efficiency and lifespan of heat pumps, saving energy costs and potentially reducing necessary investments in building thermal insulation. The plant also includes an earth basin storage system and two heat pumps.
The total investment costs for this groundbreaking project amount to around 16.3 million euros. However, the project is expected to pay for itself within a few years due to anticipated increases in oil and CO2 prices and available funding.
For those interested in learning more about this innovative project, the opening ceremony will take place at 2:00 PM, followed by a press tour with interviews beginning at 12:00 noon, and admission for registered guests possible from 1:00 PM. For questions and accreditation, please contact [email protected].
The addition of a solar thermal system to an existing or new heating system is the most cost-effective and economically viable measure for saving heating costs, according to Carsten Körnig, CEO of the German Solar Industry Association. This assertion is supported by the fact that around 2.6 million solar thermal systems are already in operation in Germany.
However, the combination of solar thermal systems with heat pumps is still an exception in Germany. The successful implementation of this project in Bracht serves as a testament to the feasibility and economic attractiveness of solar heat transition, not only in large-scale projects but also in single-family and multi-family homes.
For more information about the Solar Village in Bracht and the initiatives taken by BürgerEnergie Bracht eG, please visit their premises at Waldstraße 15, 35282 Rauschenberg. The solar heat transition is not just a dream for the future; it's happening now, one village at a time.
