Groundbreaking energy network
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The once-in-a-generation floods in the Ahr valley destroyed the entire infrastructure, from water to electricity supply. Germany’s largest “green gas network” is being planned as part of the reconstruction project. As well as wastewater and drinking water pressure pipes, high and medium-pressure gas pipes will also be installed within the scope of this major project known as “EFAhr = Energiefabrik Ahrtal”, (in English: “Ahr valley energy factory”). In future, new biogas pipelines will supply local consumers directly with regionally produced biogas from the EFAhr. With around 36.5 kilometres of newly laid PE 100-RC-Line and PE 100-RC-Line SPC pressure pipes, SIMONA® is one of the largest pipeline suppliers for this groundbreaking project. The company is therefore providing a durable solution for the below-ground infrastructure that makes a significant contribution to safety and damage limitation in the event of future floods.
On the night of 14 to 15 July 2021, more than 100 litres of rain per square metre fell in parts of the German states Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia – more than ever before since meteorological records began. The resulting catastrophic flooding in the Ahr valley, leading to 136 deaths, deeply affected the entire country and showed the importance of a rapid shift to sustainable and regenerative energies. One of the most important transport pipelines in the severely impacted municipalities of Adenau and Altenahr is the “Tallinie”, which runs along the Ahr for about 40 kilometres from Dorsel to Marienthal. After the catastrophic floods, large sections of it were severely damaged, resulting in 26 of the 49 communities subsequently being cut off from regular drinking water supplies. As the water utility responsible, the special-purpose association “Wasserversorgung Eifel-Ahr”, together with other bodies and in collaboration with numerous contractors for different trades, is in charge of the extensive repairs and replacements. The huge damage and associated reconstruction necessary prompted the parties responsible at SWB Regional GmbH, the operating company of the special-purpose association Wasserversorgung Eifel-Ahr, to plan an environmentally friendly energy supply system using biogas.
A total of 9,530 metres of PE 100-RC-Line SPC drinking water pressure pipes with diameters of 160, 225 and 355 millimetres, 14,580 metres of PE 100-RC-Line SPC gas pressure pipes with diameters of 160 and 225 millimetres, and 12,372 metres of PE 100 RC-Line wastewater pressure pipes with diameters of 110, 180, 250, 280 and 355 millimetres will now be installed in the infrastructure corridor. The around 25-kilometre-long gas pipelines that will also be laid as part of the reconstruction project are intended to create the new “energy backbone of the Ahr valley” and will supply regionally produced biogas from EFAhr directly to neighbouring communities. In conjunction with the expansion of the wastewater treatment plant to 30,000 population equivalents, a sewage sludge digester will be built to recover biogas or methane gas. Surplus gas volumes will be fed to the public gas network and will contribute to the district’s carbon-neutral balance. To provide better protection against future floods, the infrastructure corridor will be laid off the course of the river wherever possible. Where this is not possible, protective measures will be taken to improve system resilience.
In future, the upgraded infrastructure corridor will supply the Ahr valley with sustainable, regionally produced biogas. The plastic pipes will protect the area from more extensive environmental damage in the event of future flooding. This large-scale, groundbreaking construction project is set to be completed this year.
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About SIMONA:
Global Thermoplastic Solutions
SIMONA AG is one of the leading manufacturers of thermoplastic products, with production facilities and sales offices around the globe, as well as an acknowledged development partner within this field. The company's portfolio includes semi-finished products (sheets, rods, profiles, welding rods), pipes and fittings. SIMONA employs over 1,750 people worldwide. The Group manufactures 35,000 products in Germany and abroad, offering best-in-class solutions tailored to a wide range of applications in the chemical process industry, for water, energy and raw material supply, and in the mobility, environmental technology and construction sectors. Annual production exceeds 150,000 tonnes. SIMONA AG is a stock corporation listed in the General Standard. The company's registered office is in Kirn, Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany).
For further information, please refer to www.simona.de.
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The catastrophic floods in July 2021 caused devastating damage in the Ahr valley. Bridges, roads and other parts of the infrastructure were destroyed, resulting in up to 26 local communities from the two municipalities subsequently being cut off from the drinking water supply.
For the reconstruction of the infrastructure in the Ahr valley, a total of 36.5 kilometres of PE 100 RC-Line and “protective-jacket” PE 100 SPC RC-Line pressure pipes from SIMONA® will be installed.
The upgraded infrastructure corridor will create Germany’s largest “biogas/green gas network”. The new gas pipes will transport biogas to consumers from the newly built “Energiefabrik Ahrtal”, facilitating climate-neutral generation of heat and power.
The pipe material with protective jacket is especially hard-wearing and therefore offers a high level of protection against severe mechanical damage. The pressure pipes, therefore, offer an extremely safe and durable solution for the infrastructure upgrade.
During the upcoming replacements and repairs, additional pipelines will be added to the infrastructure corridor. As well as drinking water and wastewater pipes, empty conduits for fibre optic services and high and medium gas pressure piping will also be installed.
The PE 100 SPC RC-Line drinking water pressure pipes and gas pressure pipes are fitted with an additional protective outer jacket made of modified polypropylene which protects the internal PE 100 RC-Line pipe from mechanical damage.
Various local construction firms are being deployed to lay the SIMONA® pressure pipes. Thanks to their low weight, even long pipes can be installed quickly and efficiently.
Michael Schmidt, engineering department SWB Regional GmbH, and Theo Waerder, works manager at the special-purpose association “Wasserversorgung Eifel-Ahr” and managing director of SWB Regional GmbH are playing a key role in driving forward the rebuilding of infrastructure as part of an innovative green gas network.
