Saarland’s residential property company WOGE Saar, Energie SaarLorLux AG and Stadtwerke Saarbrücken Netz AG signed a joint letter of intent on 17 August 2026. The aim of this agreement is to gradually move WOGE Saar’s properties over to a sustainable, future-proof and environmentally-friendly heating supply.
Saarbrücken’s district heating system forms the focal point of this. The partners plan to work together to analyse WOGE’s property portfolio, review the connectivity options of existing heating systems, and connect suitable buildings to the district heating network as soon as possible. Potential expansions will be reviewed for real estate not currently in the network, and alternative solutions will be developed for properties that cannot be connected to district heating for technical or economic reasons.
Working together to secure Saarbrücken’s thermal energy transition
By signing the letter of intent, the partners are sending a joint message of support for the thermal energy transition in Saarbrücken. This collaboration pools the expertise of the property company, supplier and network operator, laying the foundation for a long-term, sustainable heating supply to the property portfolio.
‘WOGE Saar has a clear aim: we want our tenants in Saarbrücken to have long-term access to an affordable heating supply that is both reliable and sustainable. We are now working with municipal utility companies and Energie SaarLorLux to make this possible – in both our new buildings and our existing properties’, WOGE Saar’s CEO Mirco Bertucci said.
‘District heating is a cornerstone of Saarbrücken’s thermal energy transition. It perfectly combines convenience, security of supply and efficiency and provides property owners with a future-proof alternative to gas and oil heating systems or heat pumps. Anyone using district heating does not have to worry about the thermal energy transition, as we will make the shift to green heating on behalf of our customers’, explained Joachim Morsch, executive board member and spokesperson for Energie SaarLorLux AG.
‘This agreement paves the way for making WOGE Saar’s properties fit for the future, as well as supporting the state capital of Saarbrücken’s climate targets’, emphasised Ivars Gludausis, chairman of the board at Stadtwerke Saarbrücken Netz.
The district heating system in Saarbrücken is already run in an efficient, environmentally friendly manner. There is the prospect of other technologies and energy sources (including water source heat pumps, industrial waste heat and green hydrogen) helping to gradually make district heating climate neutral. This collaboration between the three partners impressively demonstrates how regional companies can tackle and overcome the challenges of the energy transition under the state capital’s umbrella.
Convenience and the future: district heating in Saarbrücken
There is a long tradition of district heating supply in Saarbrücken. The construction of the Römerbrücke heating plant in 1964 and the subsequent development of the district heating network enabled the first buildings in the state capital to be connected to the district heating supply. Today, a high-performance system of cogeneration units provides efficient, reliable heating. Around 11,000 dwellings, households and many public institutions, industrial companies, Saarbrücken Hospital and Saarland University are all supplied with environmentally friendly district heating. The district heating network is now 190 kilometres long and is continually being upgraded and expanded. Around half of the space heating in the state capital already comes from the district heating system.
District heating offers numerous benefits for property owners and tenants. Heating is provided directly to buildings in the form of hot water, where it is readily available for use. As a large central heating system, this is resource-saving and highly efficient. District heating offers extremely high security of supply and is also a very space-saving, low-risk form of heating.
More information about Saarbrücken’s district heating
Customers can now find all the information they need about Saarbrücken’s district heating at the website www.fernwärme-saarbrücken.de. The platform offers insights into topics such as network availability, current prices, funding opportunities and much more.
It also offers an explanatory video on district heating pricing that clearly explains the key aspects.
Partner information
WOGE Saar – Wohnungsgesellschaft Saarland mbH
WOGE Saar is a key player in Saarland’s housing industry and combines many years of experience with a clear social focus. WOGE Saar has a portfolio of over 5,500 dwellings and looks after around 12,000 tenants in Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate. Its offerings range from affordable single or student apartments to senior-citizen housing and family-friendly accommodation. As well as traditional tenancies, its range of services also includes developing and marketing housing projects. It sets particular store by close customer relations and high-quality service: the company’s work is built on short communication channels, designated contact partners, and quick response times. WOGE Saar is therefore making a vital contribution to providing pleasant, affordable living space in the region.
STADTWERKE SAARBRÜCKEN NETZ AG
Stadtwerke Saarbrücken Netz AG (SW Netz) operates electricity, water, district heating and natural gas networks and is the municipal water supplier for the state capital Saarbrücken. As well as networks, the company – which is part of the municipal utility group – also operates the associated facilities, such as substations, district heating transfer stations, and water extraction plants. Thanks to more than 4,000 km of infrastructure network, SW Netz provides some 186,000 Saarbrücken citizens with a safe, reliable energy and water supply.
ENERGIE SAARLORLUX AG
Energie SaarLorLux AG (ESLL), based in Saarbrücken, is a company owned by ENGIE Deutschland GmbH (51%) and Stadtwerke Saarbrücken GmbH (49%). As a regional energy supplier, Energie SaarLorLux provides more than 160,000 customers with electricity, gas, district heating, power engineering facilities and energy-related services. ESLL is expanding renewable energy use, advises and supports private and business customers as they work towards carbon neutrality, and is developing electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the region. Energie SaarLorLux generates electricity and district heating via a hugely efficient cogeneration process at its Römerbrücke power plants in Saarbrücken. Since 2022, ESLL has been operating one of Germany’s most state-of-the-art power plants in the form of GAMOR (a gas engine power plant). GAMOR has enabled Saarbrücken to begin phasing out fossil fuel. With its power plants and its goal of ‘green’ power generation at Römerbrücke, Energie SaarLorLux is playing a major role in Saarland’s energy transition. ESLL is strongly committed to culture, sport, environment and social issues in the region. The guiding principle of ‘Your energy #fromhere for tomorrow’ describes ESLL’s commitment to offering customers a regional supply that is forward-thinking and future-oriented.
Photo (left to right): Mirco Bertucci, CEO of WOGE Saar, Joachim Morsch, executive board member and spokesperson of Energie SaarLorLux AG, and Ivars Gludausis, chairman of the board of Stadtwerke Saarbrücken Netz.
