Leaping Into Climate-Neutral Heating and Cooling

Accounting for nearly half of the Group’s energy consumption, the Campus in Göttingen plays a key role in enhancing Sartorius' carbon footprint. The site's energy supply  is supposed to become climate-neutral by 2030. A major step towards this goal was achieved through the implementation of geothermal energy, which now provides emission-free heating and cooling for three buildings.

Lower Saxony’s Largest Geothermal Probe Field

Today, the Sartorius Campus in Göttingen operates the largest geothermal field in Germany’s federal state Lower Saxony. The probe field consists of three parts with 90 boreholes, each reaching 160 meters deep, connected by 14 kilometers of heat exchanger tubing. All in all, it reflects a 4-million-euro commitment to shallow geothermal energy.

But what exactly is geothermal energy? The concept is as simple as effective: The geothermal energy system harnesses the earth's natural thermal storage capacity.

In geothermal heating systems, pipes are installed underground. A fluid circulates within them, absorbing or releasing heat based on the outside temperature. This heat exchange is controlled by a ground-source heat pump, which keeps indoor spaces comfortable. Importantly, to keep the temperature of the earth the same, over a period of twelve months, the heat extracted, and the heat stored must maintain a balance. 

Heat pumps facilitate the transfer of heat or cold between the ground and the buildings. The electricity that powers these devices is sourced from 100% emission-free hydropower.

“Each heat pump has an output of 3,000 Kw/H - making it one of the largest heat pumps in Germany among experts,” tells Albert Conradi, Manager of Facility Management Projects, who is involved in several renewable energy initiatives at Göttingen Campus.

Year-Round Efficiency: Reliable Performance Throughout the Seasons

Delivering a 1,550 MWh per year, the geothermal heat output is comparable to the heating needs of approximately 80 single-family homes. But that's not all — its cooling capacity of 1,020 MWh per year ensures the facilities remain operational and comfortable year-round. 

Since its launch in January 2023, the geothermal probe field at Sartorius’ Campus has been maintaining comfortable temperatures across three buildings, effectively navigating through both summer and winter. The system has not only been reliable but has even yielded unexpectedly high energy output. “The geothermal field has exceeded our energy production forecasts,” states Albert Conradi.

The efficiency of the system is evident from the data collected. With an annual coefficient of performance for heating at 4.7, compared to a benchmark of 3, the system is highly efficient, generating significantly more energy than what is used by the heat pumps to operate. 

Sartorius Campus Göttingen: Targeting Zero-Emissions by 2030

The Göttingen Campus is part of a broader renewable energy initiative. In addition to introducing geothermal energy, all German production sites have been powered by hydropower-generated electricity from the Danube River since 2021.

Over the next six years, Sartorius aims to achieve emission-free energy at all its 60+ sites around the world — in line with its sub-goal of switching to 100 percent electricity from renewable sources. Furthermore, Sartorius is planning to connect the Göttingen campus to the city's district heating network by 2026.