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  • Renewable sources & modern technology

    GREEN ENERGY PLANT

    For centuries water power has been used for handicraft workshops and in mills, wood was the main heating source in the farmhouses. By re-initiating the centuries-old tradition of the Black Forest of self-sufficiency, we are nowadays able to produce all the energy needed at the Hofgut Sternen from local and renewable sources using a high standard of modern technology. Discover energy production on the premises with local and renewable sources: sun, water and wood. No consumption of fossil power - saving 500 tons of carbon dioxide per year. It works with hydropower, heat pumps, wood-chip power plant - in the EnergieWerk our high technology energy production is open to the public (guided tours on demand)

    Guided sustainability tours

  • Development of the Black Forest Village

    THEN AND NOW

    days Hofgut Sternen is a popular tour stop when travelling through the Black Forest: You'll find a Hotel, Shops with Handicrafts, glassblowing and restaurants. But all this didn't settle here coincidentally but rather developed over 700 years. But why would people settle here 700 years ago and how did they make a living? Well passing through this valley was a very important traffic link and still is today, between short distance Freiburg – Constance and long-distance Vienna – Paris. Travelling through the valley was very cumbersome with bad roads and up to 20% ascent. Along with all the travellers, industries started to settle and provide services, this is how “The Inn under the Ascent” started developing. It attracted trades such as Saddler, wainwright, blacksmith, cobbler, a ropewalk, saws and mills to provide services for passengers. Money was also earned by offering extra draughthorses for rent just for the strenuous ascent. Life was tough around here in the Middle Ages but you had all the resources required: water and timber. But with the invention of electricity, light light and machinery there was a possibility for the new energy sources and in 1912 a first water turbine was installed in the former laundry (the small building behind the hotel) • That turbine was taken as an example and brought back to life with modern technology in the SteigenHaus.

  • ELECTRICTIY GANERATED BY WATHER

    It was a lucky coincidence that the local sewage plant in Hinterzarten encountered a problem when it was expanding. They had to divert their grey water (freshly cleared wastewater) because it was too warm to be reintroduced into nature. So, hey laid a pipe all the way down to this valley, where the owners of Hofgut Sternen saw an opportunity. Negotiations were started If a turbine could be connected to this pipe and after years of planning this power plant went into operation in 2016 • Some facts about the water turbine: • Drop height: 152m (approx. 500ft) • Water pressure: 15 bar (approx. 220 psi) • Water flow: 60 | / s (approx., 15,5 gallons/s) • Electric capability: 8-74 kWh → average 22 kWh → enough for approx. 210.000 kW / year which is about 34% of annual consumption.

  • HEAT GENERATION WITH WATER

    Besides electricity this plant also supplies Hofgut Sternen with thermal energy. A heat pump withdraws 3°C from the passing water (original temperature: 5°C in winter; 17°C in summer) to generate 40kWh and warm up the local water. This method supplies Hofgut Sternen with 120.000 kWh thermal = 17% of demand.

  • ELECTRICITY GENERATION WITH TIMBER

    As the energy provided by water is not sufficient, the second local energy source is also being used: Timber. A Combined Heat and Power Plant (CHP) generates electricity and thermal energy out of wood chips. First the wood chips go through a wood gasifier where all combustible gases are extracted. These gases will then be fed into a generator. All required timber / wood chips come from suppliers within 30km. During summer it's freshly cut and therefore still moist. It'll then be dried with excess heat on location. During the winter we purchase dried wood, but that's more expensive. Electric capability: approx. 30kWh → enough for approx. 195.000 kW / year which is about 32% of annual consumption for that we require approx. 1100 cube meters of wood chips per year.

  • HEAT GENERATION WITH TIMBER

    Besides the electricity a lot of heat is being generated when burning all the wood chips: approx. 73kW/h → enough for approx. 468.000 kWh thermal energy per year = 57% of demand. In combination with the before mentioned heat pump that's 74% of demand. And that's why a wood chip furnace with a capacity of 150kWh was added to cover peak loads. These 3 technologies enable Black Forest Village to produce all the heat and warm water it demands.

  • OTHER SOURCES

    As the water turbine and the CHP only produce around 2/3 of the required electricity, other suppliers are needed. A small set solar panels generates another 17.500 kW / year = 3% of demand. The remaining 30% electricity are purchased from a small waterpower plant about 8km down the valley. To achieve full self-sufficiency in the future a further waterpower plant is in planning but still missing -some permits. Picture on the right side visualises how much timber is needed, with this high-end technology to supply one person for one hour with the energy all the needed.