Brüning Group and Heizkraftwerk Zwickau Süd GmbH & Co. KG have extended their collaboration ahead of schedule by a further two years. In doing so, both companies are continuing their long-standing and successful partnership, which began back in 2013 and has now entered its 13th year.
SUSTAINABLE WOOD CHIPS FOR BIOMASS COGENERATION PLANT
The biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Zwickau has been in operation since 2012 and makes a significant contribution to regional energy supply. In addition to feeding electricity generated from renewable sources into the public grid, the plant reliably supplies the city of Zwickau with district heating. Only sustainable wood chips are used as fuel, most of which arise from landscape conservation or during timber harvesting in forests. The plant’s annual fuel requirement amounts to approximately 60,000 tonnes of dry biomass. The vast majority of this volume is sourced from the region. Only in exceptional and unforeseeable situations – such as during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 or in the course of the 2022 energy crisis – was the procurement radius temporarily expanded in order to ensure security of supply at all times.
SECURITY OF SUPPLY IN CHALLENGING TIMES
“These exceptional and difficult-to-predict events in particular have reinforced our decision to extend the partnership with the Brüning Group ahead of schedule,” explains Mike Müller, Managing Director of Heizkraftwerk Zwickau Süd GmbH. “With Brüning Group, we have a reliable partner at our side who ensures security of supply at all times whilst professionally meeting the increasing requirements for certification, for example with regard to RED III or EEG compliance.”
The collaboration is also highly valued by the Brüning Group. Stephan van Freeden, Team Lead of the Unit Fresh Wood Biomass, emphasises: “Our collaboration with the entire plant team in Zwickau has always been characterised by mutual trust and great respect. This partnership on equal footing has been a key success factor in recent years, and we look forward to continuing this path together in the future.”
With the early contract extension, both companies are sending a clear signal for continuity, regional value creation, and a reliable as well as sustainable energy supply.