Future of gas supply: fears and plans in South Hesse

Future of gas supply: fears and plans in South Hesse

In the South Hesse region, the announcement of the Energy Caterer MVV ensures that the entire natural gas distribution network in Mannheim by 2035 ensures troubled reactions for many gas customers. In Viernheim and the surrounding communities such as Lampertheim and Bürstadt, the municipal utilities and the GGWEH are main actors in gas supply.

The Stadtwerke Viernheim have made it clear that the gas supply of the area works regardless of the Mannheim natural gas network, since Viernheim is connected directly to the German long -distance gas network. Stadtwerke emphasize that, according to the current laws, they will be maintained the gas supply by 2045 as long as this is economically justifiable. "There are no specific plans for the end of the natural gas supply," they write in their statement.

situation in Viernheim and in the Ried

There are currently around 5,000 active natural gas connections in Viernheim. The year 2024 sees only a small number of dismissals of connections, which is rated by the municipal utilities as a sign of still existing demand. The location is also stable in the surrounding communities, which are also supplied by the GGEW. The GWEH serves Lampertheim, Bürstadt, Biblis and Groß-Rohrheim and recently reported that the gas supply in these communities is guaranteed even with increasing prices and the need to switch to alternative heating systems.

In Biblis, Entega AG and its subsidiary E-Netz is responsible for the gas distribution and has recently signed a new concession contract that is applicable by the end of 2043. This seals long -term responsibility for gas supply in the region and signals a collaboration in the integration of renewable energies.

The GWEH actively pursues a decarbonization strategy and examines opportunities for a future energy supply based on hydrogen and gas from renewable raw materials. Press spokesman Tobias Kloster explains that the company plans to convert its energy networks so that they work with minimal CO2 emissions. This change could be understood in response to the growing requirements for energy supply and climate protection.

economy and future of gas supply

The people responsible for the Viernheim municipal utility company believe that the natural gas network will be needed for many years, even if more and more households and companies switch to alternative heating technologies. The market for natural gas is likely to be more expensive in the next few years, which questions the economy of the gas supply.

District heating, which is available in larger cities such as Mannheim, is not regarded by the municipal utilities in the region as a practical alternative, since comprehensive investments in heating power plants would be necessary for this. Instead, local heating could be an environmentally friendly option for new development areas to ensure sustainable heat supply.

The E-Netz Südhessen AG, which also operates gas networks in the region, plans to integrate hydrogen technologies into their infrastructure in order to gradually change the existing natural gas supply. This is in line with the aim of achieving the goals of climate protection and reducing the dependence on fossil fuels.

The municipal heat planning is expected for the region by the end of June 2028, and the municipalities such as Viernheim have to develop concepts to supply their citizens with heat in the future. The discussions and planning are in full swing, and how the legal situation will develop remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear: in gas supply and heat planning, the responsible actors are facing exciting and challenging years to secure sustainable energy future.

More details on this topic can be found in a detailed report on www.mannheimer-morgen.de .