TUM will save 30,000 tons of CO2 per year in the future

11/27/2025
Reading time 2 min.

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is taking a major step toward sustainable energy. A new CO2-neutral heating system is being installed on the Garching research campus to supply the numerous buildings and facilities. This will save 30,000 tons of CO2 per year in the future – and at lower operating costs than before. A contract to this effect has been signed with the energy service provider GETEC.

Partnership for 20 years – from left: Philipp Kindsvogel, Sales Manager South GETEC, Prof. Thomas F. Hofmann, President of TUM, Dr. Henning Lustmann, Managing Director of GETEC Wärme und Effizienz GmbH, Florian Loibl, Head of TUM Real Estate Department, Albert Berger, TUM Executive Vice President Human Resources, Administration and Finance

The key to this is the intelligent use of what is already available: waste heat. In future, most of the heating will come from the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre, a facility of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities on the research campus. Its high-performance computers generate considerable heat and require complex cooling systems. In the future, this energy will be fed into the campus’ local heating network.

Additional heat will be obtained via geothermal energy, i.e., hot thermal water from underground in Garching. Heat pumps and – for peak load requirements – electric boilers will also be used. Only for the absolutely necessary purpose of ensuring security of supply in the event of a power failure will there be a new, particularly efficient gas boiler.

TUM President Prof. Thomas F. Hofmann said: "We are serious about our commitment to greater sustainability and are continuing to implement our TUM Sustainable Futures Strategy 2030. In addition to research into innovative and efficient technologies, this also includes the day-to-day operation of our university. For us, this is a question of responsibility for future generations and credibility. I would like to thank the TUM Sustainability Office and the Vice President for Sustainable Transformation, Prof. Werner Lang, for their support, as well as our real estate management team for planning and implementing this innovative step. Everything should be ready in just three years."

TUM Executive Vice President Human Resources, Administration and Finance, Albert Berger, added: "In GETEC, our TUM real estate department has found an internationally experienced partner for the implementation of such large-scale projects. These specialists will take over the complete operation and service of the new campus-wide heat supply. And they are installing extensive new pipelines and other necessary infrastructure for this purpose. These are absolutely sensible investments in the future of our university operations."

Henning Lustermann, Managing Director of GETEC Wärme und Effizienz GmbH, emphasizes: "We are proud to be able to accompany the Technical University of Munich in this flagship project of the heat transition. Our energy concept proves that security of supply, economic efficiency, and climate protection are not mutually exclusive. By intelligently networking various local heat sources, such as waste heat from the supercomputer and geothermal energy, we are creating a sustainable system that meets the high demands of a campus of excellence."