Leipzig's underground is being modernized: construction sites on every corner!

Leipzig's underground is being modernized: construction sites on every corner!

Leipzig is currently on the move when it comes to modernizing and maintaining the city's infrastructure. In particular, the underground supply networks for electricity, gas and heat are the focus of numerous construction sites. This is being promoted in particular by Stadtwerke Leipzig and its subsidiary Netz Leipzig, which are responsible for a large part of the underground cable and pipe network. The head of the department, Claudia Friedrich, mentions that the work is essential to ensure supplies for households, offices, shops and cultural institutions such as museums and theaters.

In total, around 7,000 kilometers of lines for various forms of energy are laid underground in Leipzig. These modernization measures are necessary because many of the existing lines are several decades old. Netz Leipzig is involved in almost every construction project to lay new lines, modernize substations and provide connections to ensure the reliable energy supply that is essential for everyday life.

The role of the Leipzig public utilities

Stadtwerke Leipzig, founded in 1992 and wholly owned by LVV Leipziger Liefer- und Verkehrsgesellschaft, is a municipal energy supply company in Central Germany. They supply electricity, natural gas and district heating to the population and thus make a significant contribution to the city's infrastructure. Under the leadership of Karsten Rogall and Maik Piehler, the company employs around 674 people and achieved sales of around 3.712 billion euros in 2022.

The history of the municipal utility goes back to 1836, when the decision was made to build a gas lighting facility. Since then, the company has continued to develop, with significant milestones such as the establishment of the first municipal power station in 1895 and the introduction of district heating for public institutions in 1912.

Future visions and investments

A future-oriented concept was presented in 2019 that aims to achieve sustainable heat supply by 2038. Under this plan, coal is phased out by 2025 and significant investments are made in new gas-fired power plants. Around 150 million euros are planned for the construction of new gas power plants and 60 million euros for two gas turbines from Siemens Energy. In addition, a heat storage tank with 43,000 cubic meters of water will be integrated into the system to further optimize the energy supply.

Planned projects, such as the district heating pipeline from the Leuna chemical park to Leipzig, underline the commitment of the Leipzig public utility company to constantly improve the energy supply and at the same time promote environmental protection. By investing in renewable energies, especially biomass power plants in neighboring federal states, the company shows that it is also taking the challenges of climate change into account.

Overall, it can be said that Leipzig's municipal utilities look back on a long tradition and at the same time actively face the challenges of modern energy supply. Through continuous investments and innovative projects, the city will continue to have a reliable infrastructure in the future.

For further information about the Leipziger Group's construction sites and ongoing modernizations, please visit the City of Leipzig's blog: l.de. You can also find more details about Stadtwerke Leipzig on the platform: de.m.wikipedia.org.