SWK Stadtwerke Kaiserslautern Versorgungs-AG and WVE GmbH – both companies are part of the SWK Group – are working with other local stakeholders to supply the Fritz-Walter Stadium with district heating in record time. This can only work because coordination between all parties involved is pragmatic and solution-oriented. They know and understand one another; that is crucial. After all, the work must not jeopardise match operations under any circumstances. A tight schedule governs this major project.
The stadium company’s decision to opt for district heating as the most economical and sustainable energy source marked the start of the works. Prior to this, SWK had carried out several studies and examined various energy supply options. This was because the stadium’s old heating system urgently needed replacing. It was neither economical nor sustainable to continue operating it, and it had become prone to breakdowns due to its age.
Work has been underway on the construction site since March 2024, even though hardly anyone has noticed. Initially, a permanent connection for the mobile heating plant was installed, along with the necessary pipework inside the building. SWK worked hand in hand with WVE GmbH, which is responsible for distributing district heating within the stadium.
At the start of the summer break, the municipal utilities will lay 50 metres of main pipework from the existing district heating network on Hegelstraße towards the stadium and will supply the required heat. Up to 2,000 kilowatts are required on home match days. Even after optimising the heating system, up to 1,500 kilowatts are still needed at peak times. During the rest of the time, the system manages with around a third of this output. However, this amount still represents a significant challenge. Even when there are no matches, the stadium consumes around 50 times as much heat as a modern detached house. The average for such a house is around 10 kilowatts.
Work on the outdoor areas will be completed in time for the anniversary match in July. This is a challenge, as Betzenberg certainly lives up to its name with its rocky subsoil. Once the pipework is complete, the interior fit-out of the transfer station will follow. This six-by-nine-metre timber-framed building will be artistically designed by graffiti artist Daniel Ferino, known as Maltag, making it yet another eye-catcher for Kaiserslautern.
District heating will be supplied to the Fritz-Walter Stadium by the end of 2025. It is an ambitious timetable, but the collaboration between the stadium company, 1. FCK and the other partners is going extremely well.
Representatives of the SWK Group are confident: “As a team, we’re playing in the top flight as the energy partner for the Palatinate. We’re ensuring a sustainable and smart district heating supply. With digital and intelligent control of the system, we’re creating an efficient infrastructure that will make all the difference in the long term.”
Further coverage: District heating is coming to the stadium: FCK, the old heating system and a contingency plan – Kaiserslautern – DIE RHEINPFALZ