Lake Biel supplies energy for Nidau and Biel
Der Bielersee liefert erstmals Energie für Kundschaft in Nidau und Biel. Der dazu nötige Zwischenkreis zwischen dem Pumpwerk und der Energiezentrale ist fertiggestellt. Künftig soll das Netz auch in Richtung Ipsach erweitert werden.
Energieverbund Bielersee AG is supplying energy to customers in Nidau and Biel for the first time, according to a press release. To this end, the intermediate circuit connecting the pumping station on Dr. Schneiderstrasse with the energy centre in the Alpha building in Nidau has been constructed in recent weeks.
The lake water reaches the pumping station via two pipes at depths of 20 and 30 metres. In the energy centre, heat pumps are used to produce hot water for heating systems that are connected to the heating network. The cold, in turn, is channelled via a separate network to the Robert-Walser-Platz area near Biel railway station. A peak load boiler is available for cold days.
The plans for the use of lake water date back to 2015. in 2020, Energie Service Biel/Bienne founded Energieverbund Bielersee AG, in which the city and the Burgergemeinde Nidau are now also shareholders. The lake pipelines were laid in March 2022 and the shell of the pumping station was completed the following May. In future, the energy centre is to be renovated and the heating network extended towards Ipsach.