Intelligent energy management with hetida platform
In May 2025, a pioneering energy project was officially presented in Bremen’s Überseeinsel district. The digital centerpiece is the IoT and analytics solution hetida platform, which creates a 72-hour schedule for the four large river heat pumps.
Launch of the energy concept
Under the title “Blueprint for the heating revolution: Germany’s most innovative energy concept goes into operation”, the heating center of the new district was opened on May 13 and presented to the public what is technically and energetically possible here.
Rethinking urban energy supply
In Germany, cities and municipalities have been obliged to draw up municipal heating plans since 1 January 2024 under the Heat Planning Act (Act for Heat Planning and Decarbonization of Heating Networks, WPG). The aim is to make the heat supply climate-neutral by 2045 at the latest and to systematically take local conditions into account.
Newly developed districts in particular offer the opportunity to rethink urban energy supply from the ground up. A pioneering heating concept is being developed on Überseeinsel in Bremen: instead of fossil fuels, four river heat pumps are being used here, which efficiently extract energy even from 6 °C cold Weser water. The system is supplemented by photovoltaics and the targeted use of favorable electricity prices on the stock exchange.
Optimization of load shifting, source mix and storage integration
At its heart is an intelligent energy management system that optimizes load shifting, source mix and storage integration. The aim is a flexible, largely climate-neutral heat supply – robust against the volatility of renewable energies and price fluctuations. The Überseeinsel district is thus becoming a technical real-world laboratory for the urban heat transition. And right in the middle: The hetida platform.
Bei diesem Projekt erhält die hetida platform die Daten aus mehreren verschiedenen Quellen. So werden z.B. Wetterdaten und Day-Ahead Stromdaten über eine API von einem kommerziellen Anbieter geladen. Anderen Daten wie Wärmeverbrauch, Speicherstände werden direkt aus der SPS via MQTT der Plattform zugefügt (weitere Informationen zu den Schnittstellen der Plattform).
The control of the heat pumps on Bremen’s Überseeinsel is based on a complex interplay of meteorological, energy and economic factors. Here are the key parameters and their influence on the operating schedule:
The control of the heat pumps on Bremen’s Überseeinsel is based on a complex interplay of meteorological, energy and economic factors. Here are the key parameters and their influence on the operating schedule:
Weser temperature - crucial for efficiency
The temperature of the river water has a major influence on the performance of the heat pump. The warmer the water, the less energy the pump needs to generate heat – this means a higher COP (coefficient of performance).
Example: At 15 °C river water temperature, the heat pump works significantly more efficiently than at 5 °C. This makes operation in the warmer spring and summer particularly economical.
Cloud cover - influences the availability of solar power
The Überseeinsel uses a lot of solar power to supply the heat pump with its own electricity wherever possible. When the sun is shining, a lot of solar energy is available and the heat pump can then run preferentially. When the sky is cloudy, solar power production drops and the heat pump tends to be operated at times when electricity tariffs are favorable or uses stored heat.
Electricity tariffs - control according to costs
Electricity prices fluctuate greatly throughout the day. The heat pump is therefore preferably operated at times when prices are low, for example at night or when there is a high level of renewable electricity production. This significantly reduces operating costs. The control system therefore schedules operation according to the day-ahead electricity prices.
Heat requirement - determines the heating requirement and running times
The heat requirement depends primarily on the outside temperature: the colder it is, the more heat is required. The heat pump then runs for longer or at a higher output. At the same time, an attempt is made to store heat in buffer tanks in order to absorb peak loads and make operation as efficient and cost-effective as possible.
Building characteristics - different uses, different requirements
The type and use of a building have a significant influence on its heating requirements. Schools, offices, residential buildings and hotels each have their own load profiles and heat supply requirements. For example, schools require a lot of heat during the day when classes are in session, while demand falls sharply in the evening and at weekends. Office buildings have a different daily pattern and often lower demand outside working hours. Residential buildings, on the other hand, have a relatively even demand with peaks in the morning and evening.
The construction method, insulation and the installed heating system also play an important role in the efficiency of the heat pump and the design of the entire system. For example, the heat pump schedules and storage management must be individually adapted to the respective building types and their specific heating requirements in order to ensure efficient and reliable operation.
Storage level of the hot water tank - safety and flexibility
A central component of the system is the large hot water tank. It ensures that sufficient heat is available even when the heat pump is not running – for example at night, when electricity prices are very high or solar power production is low. The storage tank level is continuously monitored and included in the control system. The level must not fall below a minimum level, for example 10%. This ensures that sufficient heat is available for residents at all times, even if no electricity is available for a short time or the heat pump fails.
Workflow tool hetida designer supports the realization
The following graphic from the hetida designer illustrates how the heat pump timetable will be implemented in practice on Überseeinsel. As only around five of the planned buildings have been completed so far, the current heat demand in the district is still relatively low. The upper third of the graph shows the electricity price curve; the solid line shows the actual measured values, the dashed line the forecast.
At the current time (12:00), the electricity price is particularly low, which is due to a very high proportion of renewable energy in the electricity mix (94%). In such phases, the schedule recommends operating the heat pump at full load in order to make optimum use of the cheap, sustainable electricity and generate heat for the district. As the heat demand is currently low, there is no need to use the other two time windows with low electricity prices. The control system not only takes into account electricity prices and heat demand, but also the fill level of the hot water tank: as described above, the tank must not fall below 10%, for example, in order to ensure security of supply. In this way, the operation of the heat pump is flexibly and efficiently adapted to the current conditions
Maximum efficiency thanks to intelligent heat pump schedules
The schedule for the heat pump on the Überseeinsel takes all these parameters into account: River water temperature, solar power availability, electricity prices, building characteristics, storage tank level and heat demand. In this way, operation is optimally adapted to the environmental and economic conditions – for maximum efficiency and minimum costs.
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