Jena, 02.04.2026 – The forward-looking real-world laboratory JenErgieReal is entering the structural implementation phase. In various districts of Jena, networked systems for the intelligent control of electricity, heat, and electromobility will be established by 2027.
- Project: Real-world laboratory JenErgieReal (development of a virtual power plant)
- Battery storage: Planned in Göschwitz and Drackendorf
- E-charging stations: Zentrum, Westviertel, and Winzerla
- Heat model district: Salvador-Allende-Platz in Lobeda-Ost
- Exhibition: „ENERGIE – WAS UNS BEWEGT“ in the EnergieLabor, Löbderstraße
- Completion: Planned for autumn 2027
- Budget: Around 40 million euros (approximately half from federal funds)
A virtual power plant for Jena
The Stadtwerke Jena Group has given the go-ahead for comprehensive infrastructure measures in the city area and the adjacent Saale-Holzland-Kreis. The core of the JenErgieReal project is the construction of a so-called virtual power plant. This system links decentralized generation plants, energy consumers, and power storage units. Through intelligent digital control, generation and consumption are to be synchronized in real-time, peak loads in the grid avoided, and energy used significantly more efficiently overall.
Construction projects in the districts
The structural implementation extends across several city districts. In the industrially and commercially characterized districts of Göschwitz and Drackendorf, the installation of large-scale battery storage systems is planned. Simultaneously, the infrastructure for electromobility is being expanded: new charging stations are to be built in the Zentrum, in the Westviertel, and in Winzerla.
At Salvador-Allende-Platz in Lobeda-Ost, project partners are also testing new concepts for heating and hot water. Through smart control systems, energy consumption is to be reduced in this model district. The primary goal: to reduce CO2 emissions and keep service charges for tenants stable in the future.
Accompanying research and exhibition
Since the energy transition raises not only technical but also social questions, the project is accompanied by social science research. The focus is on public acceptance. Interested citizens can find information in the exhibition „ENERGIE – WAS UNS BEWEGT“. The show, which offers concrete insights into the new technologies and concepts, can be seen at the EnergieLabor in the Löbderstraße, among other places. Further information on the Stadtwerke Jena Group and its projects can be found online at stadtwerke-jena.de.
Background: Districts in transition
The selection of locations for the JenErgieReal project reflects the diverse structure of Jena. Göschwitz, as a major commercial and industrial location in the south of the city, is an ideal hub for testing high-performance battery storage, as there is naturally a high and volatile energy demand here. Lobeda-Ost, built in the 1970s and 80s as an extensive large-scale residential estate, is home to thousands of tenants. Energetic renovations and smart heating models, such as those now being tested at Salvador-Allende-Platz, have an enormous leverage effect on the city’s CO2 balance and often serve as a nationwide blueprint for the technological retrofitting of comparable residential areas.
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially checked, and expanded with AI support.