• RE=FILL project: Industrial waste heat from Leuna as district heating for Leipzig
• Climate-neutral heat supply for around 100,000 households from 2028
• 19 kilometers of pipeline with almost 8,000 components "Made in Germany"
Sondershausen, Germany. With the RE=FILL project, one of Germany’s largest and most significant district heating infrastructure projects is taking shape in central Germany. Leipziger Stadtwerke and the TotalEnergies Raffinerie Mitteldeutschland are jointly implementing a
new district heating connection between Leuna and Leipzig. ISOPLUS has been awarded the contract for the entire pipeline route and will supply all pre-insulated pipe systems, bends, and joints for the project.
Around eight thousand individual components, including more than three thousand 12-meter pre-insulated pipes, are being manufactured and delivered ready for installation at the Sondershausen plant – entirely Made in Germany. This makes RE=FILL the largest single project in the history of ISOPLUS Fernwärmetechnik GmbH in Germany.
Starting in 2028, the approximately 19-kilometer pipeline (total length including flow and return: 38 km) will transport around 640 GWh of CO2-neutral heat to Leipzig each year. This will supply heat to roughly 100,000 households, covering about 38 percent of Leipzig’s district heating demand. The source of this energy is industrial waste heat from the Leuna Chemical Park, which until now had been released unused into the environment.
Sascha Hagedorn, Authorized Officer and Head of Sales Northeast at ISOPLUS Fernwärmetechnik GmbH, explains: “RE=FILL impressively demonstrates the potential of utilizing industrial waste heat. For us, the project is a milestone – both technically and in its significance for the energy transition. It proves that sustainable heat supply and economic efficiency can go hand in hand.”
Dr. Maik Piehler, Managing Director of Leipziger Stadtwerke, adds: “With ISOPLUS, we have a partner that combines quality, reliability, and innovative strength. The unavoidable industrial waste heat from Leuna, classified as CO2-neutral, will be transported safely and efficiently to Leipzig through ISOPLUS’ piping system – a key step for our heat transition and the city’s energy future.”
The project makes a significant contribution to Leipzig’s climate neutrality strategy, which aims for a fully climate-neutral heat supply by 2038. RE=FILL embodies what Germany’s heat transition truly needs: innovation, regional value creation, and strong partnerships.
Beyond that, RE=FILL demonstrates how cross-sector collaboration can effectively combine energy efficiency and climate protection in practice. By utilizing industrial waste heat, the project not only saves fossil resources but also strengthens regional energy independence and competitiveness. It creates long-term perspectives reaching far beyond Leipzig – serving as a model for an interconnected and future-proof heat supply across Central Germany.
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