GW St. Pölten Industrial Facility
Transforming industrial operations through smart decarbonization
GW St. Pölten operates a large industrial campus comprising four interconnected buildings used for manufacturing, workshops, and office functions. The site relied on gas-fired heating, lacked systematic energy monitoring, and had significant inefficiencies in heat distribution. The challenge was to substantially reduce emissions while maintaining industrial operations and creating a financially viable pathway toward renewable energy.
Why this building
GW St. Pölten demonstrates how an industrial facility can achieve substantial decarbonization without major building-envelope upgrades. The project combines climate action with social impact: around 70% of employees are people with disabilities. Its scale, energy intensity, and strong focus on operational optimization make it an excellent example of how industrial buildings can reduce emissions, lower costs, and improve performance simultaneously.
Frictions encountered
Existing heating systems were oversized and operated inefficiently.
No systematic monitoring of energy flows was initially available.
The heating distribution network had not been hydraulically balanced.
Renewable heating systems had to be integrated without disrupting industrial production.
Diverse manufacturing processes required tailored solutions for energy efficiency and waste-heat recovery.
Measures planned/ implemented
Hydraulic balancing and optimization.
Operational optimization and controls improvements.
Ground-source heat pump.
Large photovoltaic installation.
Heat recovery from industrial processes.
Decentralized domestic hot-water systems.
Co-benefits
The project strengthens the resilience of a social enterprise that provides supported employment for people with disabilities. Data-driven optimization enabled the heating system to be downsized to 500 kW, reducing investment costs by around EUR 200,000. At the same time, improved energy efficiency and renewable energy increase energy independence, lower operating costs, and enhance system reliability.
