How can 40 KSB pumps support heating and cooling for an entire urban district?

Application Success Story

Bremen Regional Energy Project

From river heat extraction to the delivery of both hot and cold energy, the construction of an integrated regional energy system. 

Location: Bremen, Germany

Application: District Heating and Cooling Systems

Project scale: Approximately 16 hectares of land, encompassing around 650 residential units and commercial spaces.

Commissioning Date: April 2025

KSB Solution: 40 units of Etaline and Etabloc series pumps, a PumpMeter monitoring device, and an external variable frequency drive.

In the past, this was a factory that produced corn chips. Today, this former industrial site is being transformed to create a vibrant neighborhood with both warm and cool spaces.

In Bremen, Germany, the Uberseeinsel (Overseas Island) is being transformed from an old industrial site into a urban district spanning approximately 16 hectares, comprising around 650 residential units and various commercial spaces.

Here, the challenge extends beyond simply determining "where the energy comes from"; it also involves a more practical question: how can heat and cold be delivered reliably when needed?

Heating and cooling supply – must not fall through the cracks

This regional energy system integrates wind energy, solar energy, and the thermal energy of the Weser River.

One 5 MW river-source heat pump utilizes the Weser River as its heat source; even when the river water temperature falls below 4°C, it can still be utilized for heating supply. An ultra-large-scale thermal storage system, ice浆 energy storage, a Power-to-Heat (P2H) module that converts electrical energy into thermal energy, a regional heating and cooling distribution network, and a self-learning predictive and operational management system work together to coordinate the generation, storage, and utilization of energy.

                                                           Bremen – Overseas Island Energy and Heating Solutions

Even more practical is that a surface-based cold-water energy storage facility can also serve as an ice rink – thereby seamlessly integrating this energy infrastructure into the daily life of the neighborhood.

However, the greater the technological complexity, the more it tests the synergy between the parties involved.

Integrate dispersed devices into a single system.

If the entire energy system is viewed as a building, then the heat pumps, energy storage devices, and the pipeline network each perform their respective functions; the hydraulic system acts as the underlying flow path, enabling the energy carrier to flow as needed between the generation side, the storage side, and the distribution network.

This is precisely the role KSB plays in the project.

The project utilizes 40 KSB Etaline and Etabloc series end-suction pumps of various specifications, each equipped with a KSB PumpMeter monitoring device; an external variable frequency drive is employed for speed regulation, enabling the pumps to adapt to changing load requirements.

                                                           The core of the Energy Center: KSB Etaline series suction pumps

                                                           Ensure the stable and efficient operation of the power unit

This configuration provides the system with support across three areas:

* Adjust operating conditions according to actual requirements

* Enhance the operational reliability of the hydraulic system

* Enhance operational data transparency to facilitate integration into the energy management system

The pump is not merely a conveyance device here; it serves as the hydraulic foundation connecting the stages of energy production, storage, and utilization.

From old industrial sites to new regional energy applications

After approximately four years of design and construction, the Project No.1 and No.2 Heating Centers were put into operation in April 2025.

From grain-producing factories to new neighborhoods that seamlessly integrate living, working, and leisure spaces – what is changing is not merely the use of land, but also the way energy is organized and utilized.

                                                            Reliable pumping and distribution: Etabloc series pumps equipped with PumpMeter

                                                            Ensure efficient and stable heating and cooling supply.

As energy sources become increasingly diversified, stable and efficient operation depends not merely on a single core piece of equipment, but also on whether each segment of the flow can be properly regulated and continuously monitored.

KSB provides a solid hydraulic foundation for this complex regional energy system through its pumps, monitoring devices, and speed regulation solutions.