In 1943, an anti-aircraft bunker was constructed by the Nazis in Hamburg, Germany. Some 70 years later, the structure is supplying power to more than 4,000 homes in the area.
Utility company Hamburg Energie partnered with IBA Hamburg to transform the building. The new "Energy Bunker" is already producing energy for the local community and will eventually provide heating to 3,000 homes and electricity to 1,000 others.
The anti-aircraft bunker had gun turrets to fend off Allied attacks, but also sheltered local people inside during air raids. At the end of WWII, the British wanted to destroy the building entirely, but demolishing the thick concrete walls likely would have damaged surrounding buildings. Instead, the British did away with most of the interior and left the exterior alone. The building remained this way for over 60 years, according to gizmag.
The original planning for the plant began in 2006, with actual renovation beginning in 2011. Funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Hamburg Climate Protection Concept, the project came to approximately $36 million.
A 2 million-liter water reservoir plugs into the existing Reiherstieg heating network and will serve as a heat store for the plant. The plant features multiple heat sources: a biomass power plant; woodchip burning unit, which feeds into a large boiler; a solar thermal array located on the roof of the bunker; and waste heat from a nearby industrial plant.
To produce electricity, a photovoltaic system is installed on the building's southern facade; the wood burning unit that heats the reservoir doubles as an electricity-producing unit. The energy output is kept steady by a peak-load boiler and battery array.
In addition to the power plant, the building also includes a war memorial, cafe, and visitor's center.
Related Stories
Energy Efficiency | Feb 23, 2016
Economists, energy efficiency practitioners need to work together for better cost/benefit studies
Flawed energy efficiency research yields misleading, confusing results.
Green | Feb 18, 2016
Best laid plans: Masdar City’s dreams of being the first net-zero city may have disappeared
The $22 billion experiment, to this point, has produced less than stellar results.
Green | Feb 1, 2016
Supreme Court ruling on demand response expected to benefit smart grid
Ruling allows PV owners and other small energy generators to continue to be paid wholesale rates for power they generate.
Codes and Standards | Jan 22, 2016
State Savings Calculator analyzes savings associated with energy codes
The calculator breaks down the cost-effectiveness of energy codes on a state-by-state basis.
Green | Nov 17, 2015
DOE launches new data collaborative to help cities and states boost building efficiency
The SEED Standard will help manage, standardize, share performance data.
Energy Efficiency | Nov 16, 2015
Amazon will heat its new Seattle campus with waste heat from next-door data centers
Up to 4 million kilowatt-hours of energy will be saved each year.
Energy Efficiency | Nov 6, 2015
DOE’s Energy Asset Score diagnostic tool gets upgrade
The tool is used to assess energy efficiency of commercial and multifamily buildings.
Energy Efficiency | Oct 30, 2015
Boston’s energy reporting law shows older buildings more efficient than post-1950 structures
First year of reporting tracks 45% of commercial building space.
Energy Efficiency | Oct 28, 2015
San Francisco energy consumption benchmarking ordinance bears fruit
Efficiency has improved since 2011 law initiated.
Energy Efficiency | Oct 12, 2015
Renewables surging in mix of U.S. energy generation
‘Tectonic Shift’ as coal use plummets; wind and solar rise.