Mureck Energy Cycle We, that is the energy and protein producer SEEG of southern Styria and die district heating supplier Nahwärme Mureck, operate a biodiesel plant and a biomass plant to supply our town with energy. Processing rapeseed according to the closed loop principle "from the field to the tank" Some 510 farmers of the region are members of SEEG. They cultivate rapeseed and supply their harvest to SEEG. SEEG uses the rape to produce biodiesel of EN14214 quality. The farmers receive the biodiesel (380 litres per 1000 kg rapeseed) and rapeseed cake (620 kg per 1000 kg rapeseed) produced from the rape for their own use. The rapeseed cake serves as protein feed for livestock. Processing used cooking oil according to the closed loop principle "from the pan to the tank" As the world's first, and for a long time only, company, SEEG makes biodiesel out of used cooking oil. Communities and food-serving businesses can become members of this cooperative. The used cooking oil is collected and turned into biodiesel (850 litres biodiesel from 1000 kg used cooking oil). This biodiesel is returned to the members for use in their own vehicles. More than 100 communities and the public transport operator of Graz are part of this cycle. Generating heat for the town of Mureck "from the forest to the living room" Nahwärme Mureck GmbH operates a biomass heating plant. The heat is supplied by two 2-MW heating furnaces. Currently, 200 buildings are hooked up to this network - its length measures approx. 13 km - and output amounts to approx. 7 MW. Power generation "Green electricity from the socket" Nahwärme Mureck operates a co-generation plant with an output of 140 kW by making electricity from biodiesel. The electrical energy is fed into the public grid and the heat is fed into the existing district heating network of Mureck. In case of a power cut, we have our own electricity supply. Biogas "ubiquitous supply of the Mureck region with electricity and heat" To secure the supply of electricity required, a biogas plant with an electrical output of 8.000 MWh and a similar heat output operates since spring 2004. The raw material used is farm animal manure and renewable raw materials as well as by-products from biodiesel production. The ambitious project of Mureck, a member community of the association for climate protection, which aims to achieve 100% energy supply with fuel, electricity and heat from renewable energy has been launched and will reach its goal within only a few years. The five energy cycles that have been networked secure the enterprise's economic stability and are of vital significance for the entire region both in terms of ecology and social politics. Using raw material from the region to cover the energy supply and supplying renewable energy offers the following advantages: - Environmental preservation (45000 to CO2 reduction per year) - Safety - Comfort - Added value - High quality of life The Mureck Energy Cycle is therefore a highly promising and sustainable energy concept. The emulation of this project is essential from an ecological, economic and socio-political perspective. With its Mureck Energy Cycle, SEEG in Mureck was selected from among 1,200 entries and awarded 1st prize, the WORLD ENERGY GLOBE 2001. << back