Efficiency and cost-effectiveness: Implementing heat supply from renewables

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash
Starting point: the desire for a sustainable solution
Renewable energy systems not only promise CO₂ savings, but also long-term independence from fossil fuels and rising energy costs. Our customers see this as an opportunity to make their buildings or neighbourhoods climate-friendly and economically future-proof at the same time.
However, every project brings its own specific challenges:
- Power and energy requirements: How much power and heat is needed on site?
- Location dependency: What sources are available at the location?
- Framework conditions: Technical, legal and economic requirements such as funding opportunities or land availability.
- Long-term planning security: Systems must be efficient today and future-proof.
From analysis to planning: how customised energy solutions are made
We start by carrying out comprehensive analyses:
- Site and potential analysis: Which sources such as geothermal energy, aquathermal energy, waste heat or waste water can be utilised?
- Power and demand analysis: What is the power and energy demand - today and in the future? To what extent can load peaks be reduced through simultaneity and peak load generators, thus saving costs when dimensioning the source?
- Simulation and calculation: We use modern tools to simulate the energy flows for the source and grid design and create a model for the most efficient solution.
Maximum efficiency versus costs: when investment costs act as a deterrent
Based on this data, we first develop the most energy-efficient solution, taking into account the available potential - be it through large energy storage systems, extensive utilisation of waste heat or the use of state-of-the-art PV technologies. Our aim is to integrate all renewable sources that can be utilised sensibly and reliably and to achieve the highest possible annual performance factor (APF) (the APF shows how efficiently a system works throughout the year).
This is also often a requirement of our customers. However, when it comes to the costs of this technical maximum solution, the enthusiasm of many customers wanes noticeably. High investments for large storage tanks, additional boreholes or comprehensive PV systems lead to doubts about the economic viability of the system or simply to costs that far exceed the budget.

Graphic: goodmen energy
Our solution: variants for efficiency, economy and flexibility
To resolve this conflict, we go one step further and develop several variants on request. These range from more cost-effective alternatives to modular concepts that can be expanded at a later date. Possible variants could look like this:
- Maximum efficiency: systems that achieve maximum technical efficiency and CO₂ savings - with higher initial investment.
- Balanced solutions: Efficient but more economically viable systems that flexibly integrate customer requirements. For example, we can reduce storage tank sizes or utilise alternative heat sources.
- Entry-level models: Cost-effective variants that can be gradually expanded in order to achieve long-term climate targets - so-called modular systems.
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Foto von Ibrahim Boran auf Unsplash
Subsidies and potential savings: How we can help to make renewable energy affordable
At goodmen energy, we understand that profitability plays a central role for our customers (and not just for them). That's why we make every effort to keep an eye on costs and long-term goals by
- Utilising subsidies: We check all available grants and subsidies to reduce investment costs.
- Comparing costs: We transparently compare the investment, operating and consumption costs of all variants. This involves comparing the investment costs with the operating costs and analysing the break-even point in order to assess the break-even point for our customers.
- Acting as system managers: We also draw our customers' attention to costs that are not our responsibility, but which we anticipate - so that there are no surprises.
The advantages of variants: Customers gain clarity and control
By comparing different solutions, our customers receive a transparent overview of the investment and operating costs as well as the long-term savings. This approach has proven its worth: Many customers end up opting for a variant that does not offer maximum efficiency, but is nevertheless significantly more environmentally friendly and economically attractive than their existing system.
Economic efficiency versus climate targets: A compromise that doesn't have to be a contradiction in terms
Even if customers often do not choose the maximum solution, our compromise solutions always lead to a significant improvement over conventional systems. They offer:
- Long-term cost benefits: Through low operating costs and stable energy prices.
- Modularity: Systems that can be flexibly adapted to achieve the climate targets not immediately, but gradually by 2045.
- Standardisation: Prefabricated elements such as energy centres mean that prices can not only be fixed, but also cheaper.
- High acceptance: Solutions that are both technically and financially convincing.
Covering peak loads alternatively
There is great potential for savings in the capping of peak loads by means of simultaneity factors and in the choice of peak load generators. By applying a simultaneity factor that matches the consumer structure, the source can be dimensioned smaller, thus saving investment costs.
As peak loads only occur extremely rarely during the year, we often choose a more cost-effective peak load generator and can thus reduce the number of cost-intensive sources such as geothermal probes. If the peak load generator is operated electrically, it is ideal to run it with self-generated electricity from PV systems. Biomass or biogas/biomethane can also be an option for cost-effective peak load generation.
For new-build neighbourhoods, modular source development is a good way of spreading investment costs over a longer period of time. This is not just about the costs of developing the source: initial operational experience allows empirical statements to be made about the actual consumption of customers. Collected data can be precisely evaluated and further source planning can be adapted accordingly.

Example from the field
When planning the cold local heating supply for a new residential neighbourhood, in addition to an air heat exchanger, geothermal probes were also planned as a source to cover the heat demand at low temperatures. Firstly, we reduced the maximum neighbourhood heating load from 1,625 kW to 1,300 kW by applying a simultaneity factor of 0.8.
In order to optimise the costs, we then analysed the heat output at which the heating elements integrated into the heat pumps should be used in order to achieve the optimum balance between the investment costs for the probe field and the moderate additional electricity costs from using the heating elements. As a result of this optimisation step, we have reduced the heat output to be covered by the probes by approx. 40 % to 750 kW.
These measures made it possible to save 20 % of the probe metres. Taking into account the additional electricity costs for using the heating rods at peak load times (energy share of 2 %), this results in investment cost savings of approx. 500,000 €.
Sustainable systems with perspective: focusing on climate targets up to 2045
Renewable energy systems are an important step towards a climate-neutral future. At goodmen energy, we endeavour to allay our customers' fears of high costs by offering transparent solutions and flexible models.
Our aim is not only to realise energy-efficient systems, but also economically viable ones - and thus jointly drive forward the heating transition. Because every realised project contributes to the heating transition. Thanks to our flexible concepts, we offer options for gradual expansion in order to achieve the climate targets by 2045.
Together, we are able to develop sustainable energy concepts that will impress both today and tomorrow.