Jump start with mobile heat

During the two-week commissioning phase of a biogas plant in Eigeltingen near Stockach, a mobile heating system from Hotmobil reliably provides the necessary heat supply.

After more than two years of planning and construction, the Rigling family's new biogas plant in Eigeltingen near Stockach begins operation. The family has owned a farm for several generations, currently keeping 60 mother pigs and 40 dairy cows. But after the price of agricultural goods fell steadily and must be classified as unstable overall, Michael Rigling, looked around for a new, secure business basis. He is the eldest son of the family and in charge of the farm: "We researched for a long time and received intensive advice. In the end, the decision was made in favor of a biogas plant with an attached combined heat and power unit, which is designed for an output of 250 kW. We will use it to generate electricity and heat in the future." The electricity is fed into the public grid via a specially built transformer station. The heat is supplied to the village with its approximately 80 residential buildings via a local heating pipeline.

In the biogas plant, biomass - in this case the manure and dung from the stables - is further utilized. The fermentation process produces gas that is used to generate electricity and heat via a combined heat and power plant. To keep the fermentation process going, heat must be supplied from outside. In the start-up phase, this was done by a mobile heating system from the rental company Hotmobil, which is a leader in Germany when it comes to mobile heating, cooling and steam systems. Michael Rigling comments: "Here again, I relied on recommendations. And after both my consultant for the biogas plant and Senergie, the manufacturer of the combined heat and power plant, recommended Hotmobil to me, I ordered a plant there. It was all very straightforward and a suitable plant was connected at the desired time. It runs until we reach the required base temperature and the gas production is stable. After that, we are self-sufficient." This is because the heat required for the fermentation process is then supplied by the combined heat and power plant, which is operated with the gas produced.