When the WWK ARENA opened in 2009, it was equipped with a geothermal energy system. This features two large heat pumps that provide heating and air conditioning for the stadium, as well as heating under the pitch. The administration building, which opened on the stadium site in 2018, was also connected to the WWK ARENA’s energy system. In addition,the buildings at the WWK ARENA site are supplied with electricity from hydropower, which is also used to operate the water pumps.
The water required for the system is drawn from two wells drilled to the west of the stadium. Circulation pumps move up to 200,000 litres of water per hour through two plate heat exchangers before returning it to the groundwater flow a few degrees cooler. Heat is extracted from the warmer groundwater and used to evaporate a refrigerant. The resulting gas is then compressed, raising its temperature further, in a compressor powered by electricity from hydropower.
The heat generated through this process can raise the temperature of 12,000 litres of water in a heating storage tank to as much as 60°C. This allows the stadium’s facilities, including the Business Club and hospitality boxes, changing rooms and fitness areas, kiosks, various operational buildings and FCA’s administrative offices, which opened in 2018,to be heated via the geothermal energy system and electricity from hydropower used to operate the pumps. The arena’s energy system was developed jointly by energy providers Lechwerke AG (LEW) and Stadtwerke Augsburg, who have operated it on behalf of FC Augsburg ever since.
In 2011, the WWK ARENA was recognised as one of 365 award winners by the “Deutschland – Land der Ideen” initiative.
