38c3 Energiebunker Wilhelmsburg

A beacon of the energy transition: For far too long, the old anti-aircraft bunker in Wilhelmsburg was an architectural eyesore. Today, the former wartime building is a globally unique example of the innovative use of renewable energy and a pioneer for other regional power plants worldwide. During the tour through the building, you will learn more about the Energiebunker’s development from a wartime building to an innovative lighthouse project for the energy transition. Afterwards, you can enjoy the incomparable panoramic view over the city of Hamburg at Café vju.

History and metamorphosis

Just a few years ago, people in the Neuhöfer Straße were presented with a picture of a dark past: on an area the size of almost three and a half soccer pitches, a fenced-in dark grey and black concrete block towered 42 meters (137.80 feet) into the sky - a relic from the Second World War. There stood that anti-aircraft bunker with a battered façade that spoke of hardship, fear and the futility of war without fitting into the here and now.

Between 1942 and 1944, both the reinforced concrete colossus in Wilhelmsburg and its counterpart on Heiligengeistfeld were built as a symbol of the strength of the German Reich at that time. In addition to protecting the civilian population from bombing raids, the two bunkers with their anti-aircraft guns (in German “Flak” for short) were primarily used for air defense. After the collapse of the Nazi regime, the Allies decided to put an end to the two mega-bunkers. In 1947, the British army blew up the interior of the anti-aircraft bunker in Wilhelmsburg to make it unusable for military use again. The building sat unused for the next 60 years.

With the beginning of the International Building Exhibition (IBA), which was held in Hamburg from 2006 to 2013, the starting signal was finally given for the new use of the dilapidated war ruin: an eco-power plant was to be built in Wilhelmsburg - a futuristic vision in a memorial from the past.

Technologies

Today, the Energiebunker supplies green electricity and, above all, heat for the entire Reiherstieg district in Wilhelmsburg. The Energiebunker is a great example of how an entire district can be supplied with renewable energy. Various environmentally friendly technologies are used to ensure that Wilhelmsburg residents have a nice warm home and sufficient electricity.

Solar energy

Over 2,000 square meters (21,528 square feet) of solar collectors and cells are installed on the roof and on the south side of the Energiebunker, capturing the sun rays over Hamburg. The solar thermal system on the roof generates heat, while the photovoltaic system on the south side generates electricity.

Waste heat

Waste heat from a neighbouring industrial area is fed into the Energiebunker, where it is stored and passed on to consumers as heat.

Combined heat and power generation

Two combined heat and power plants (CHP) inside the Energiebunker, powered by municipal biogas from the Hamburg sewage treatment plant, provide electricity and heat thanks to combined heat and power generation. One of the CHPs runs on biomethane. To ensure that the heating in Wilhelmsburg never runs out, three peak-load boilers secure the heat supply at exceptional peak times.

Storage

The largest space in the Energiebunker is taken up by the heat storage tank. This large buffer storage tank holds two billion liters of water - this corresponds to two thousand cubic meters. The water serves as a storage medium for the thermal energy that is fed in to the storage tank in the course of a day from industrial waste heat, solar collectors and CHP units. The storage tank itself is particularly well insulated and thus ensures that there is enough heat for the Elbe island, especially at peak times.

Local use

The Energiebunker in Wilhelmsburg has an impressive track record: At a good 16,500 megawatt hours, the total output of heat generation corresponds to the consumption of more than 2,000 households and can be further expanded in the future. In addition, the Energiebunker generates as much electricity from renewable sources as around 1,000 Hamburg households consume. In this way, almost 5,000 tons of climate-damaging CO2 are saved every year.

Details

• Tours:
  • Day 3 (29 December) 14:00 German
  • Day 3 (29 December) 15:00 English
• Duration: 1 hour
• Language: German; English
• Cost: free
• Meeting time at Hackertours Desk: as mentioned above
• Location: Energiebunker, Bus 13 stop Veringstraße
• Operator: Hamburger Energiewerke GmbH
• Accessibilty: There is an elevator that brings you to every level. The roof is not barrier-free: If necessary, you can visit the viewing platform instead of the roof.