Since the beginning of the year, SpiraTec AG has been supplying its administrative building at its headquarters in Speyer, Germany, largely with solar power generated in-house. With the installation of a high-performance photovoltaic system and an additional energy storage system, the company is taking another important step towards sustainability.

Efficient use with lasting effectiveness – a win-win situation

The photovoltaic system was planned as part of an expansion of the property to create an additional parking lot with about 20 parking spaces. To make the most efficient use of this space, SpiraTec opted for a roof with solar panels that not only provide shade, but also generate energy. With a system output of 64 kWp, the administration building has been supplied with solar energy since the beginning of 2025. Thanks to the retrofitted 96 kWh battery storage system, the self-generated electricity is also reliably available at night or on cloudy days – for example, to operate the servers. This ensures that power is available until the next morning. During the day, the newly generated solar energy recharges the storage system.

The combination of PV system and battery storage really comes into its own in the summer, when the building’s air conditioning system consumes more electricity. On sunny days, SpiraTec uses the PV system to meet all of its headquarters’ electrical needs. Surplus solar energy is either used for new charging stations, i.e. electric mobility, efficiently stored temporarily or fed into the public grid. “We estimate that we will only be using 15-20 percent of our previous power consumption from the public grid at our headquarters in Speyer. This is a reduction of 85 percent and a significant contribution to reducing our CO₂ footprint,” explains Frank Heines, CEO of SpiraTec AG.

Stronger together: Implementation with onoff

A key factor in the success of the project was the close cooperation with onoff automation services gmbh, a subsidiary of SpiraTec AG. With many years of experience in hardware engineering, switch cabinet construction and EMSR assembly, onoff was responsible for the electrical installation, network cabling and assembly of the outdoor switch cabinet. The company also installed the barrier system for the parking lot entrance and the outdoor lighting for the carport.

With this project, SpiraTec sets an example for sustainable business practices and demonstrates how innovation and responsibility go hand in hand.

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of welcoming several students and offering them exciting insights into the world of technology and innovation.

What did the children experience?
Our diverse program gave the young participants the opportunity to learn more about various professions and activities in our company:
• Electricians and Engineers: The children got to experience what these professions are about and what exciting tasks await them.
• Sales and Administration: Insights into the working world of sales and administration showed that these areas are anything but boring!

The visit to our production facility was particularly exciting. The children had the chance to gather their first hands-on experiences with control cabinets or cable assembly! – a real highlight! 🔧

But that wasn’t all: In interviews with colleagues and a presentation by a young engineer, the young people gained valuable insights into the world of technology and digitization. The glimpse into the Digital Twin was particularly exciting.

A day full of fun and learning!
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive! All the students not only had a lot of fun but also learned many new things and got their first insights into the wide range of activities in our company. The day not only sparked interest in technical professions but also demonstrated how exciting and diverse the work environment in our company is.

A big thank you to all colleagues who contributed to the success!

Sustainable Heat Generation: onoff  Innovative District Heating Project

Wunstorf, May 5, 2025 – Geothermal energy is considered one of the key elements for the energy transition. Future projects focusing on the innovative use of geothermal heat are gaining importance. onoff automation services GmbH, a company of SpiraTec AG, is at the forefront of these developments and applies its expertise to realize such projects. A current example: The expansion of a geothermal power plant in Rhineland-Palatinate, with the goal of providing climate-neutral district heating to a neighboring town.

For the past 10 years, the geothermal power plant has been generating climate-neutral electricity with a capacity of 5 MW. With this expansion, a new goal comes into focus: the potential district heating supply for an entire town. As part of this project, a massive water storage tank was installed and equipped with state-of-the-art heat exchangers and fans to realistically simulate the town’s heat demand. If this simulation proves successful, the town could potentially be supplied with climate-neutral district heating in the future.

The plant operators entrusted onoff automation services GmbH with the hardware design for the simulation, the construction of the control cabinets, as well as the assembly and project management. The entire implementation had to be completed within just four months to meet a deadline for receiving EU funding. Despite the tight timeframe, onoff was able to successfully meet the high requirements.

“This project impressively demonstrates how sustainable energy concepts can be successfully and pragmatically implemented in practice, even within a short timeframe. The potential transition to district heating for an entire town is a decisive step toward a CO2-neutral future,” says Frank Jahr, Managing Director of onoff automation services GmbH. “We are proud to contribute our expertise to future projects of this kind and thus play an important role in the energy and heat transition,” adds Frank Jahr.

The geothermal power plant uses brine from the Upper Rhine Graben to extract lithium through a special process – a crucial raw material for the production of batteries for electric vehicles. In the future, this technology could play a key role not only in energy supply but also in electromobility. The lithium deposits in the Upper Rhine Graben, which are even larger than originally thought, are generating international interest and strengthening the region’s position as a significant hub for sustainable energy generation.

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In the past school year, students from today’s 12th grade at IGS Seelze completed a special project as part of an elective course (WPK) on the topic of “Water.” Together with their teachers and with support from onoff automation services gmbh, a subsidiary of the SpiraTec Group, they developed a unique model. In addition to the subjects geography and chemistry, the project focused not only on academic work but also on practical learning — from managing budgets and requirements to material procurement and creative implementation.

The result is a so-called stream table, a model that simulates the water cycle and river flows. Four adjustable nozzles create different flow intensities, making sedimentation and erosion visible. Sand and gravel shift under water pressure, new riverbeds form, and the path from the source to a lake or the sea can be observed. A hydraulic jack also allows the simulation of gradients or strong waves.

For Dennis Cassens, Head of Upper Secondary Education (Sek II) at IGS Seelze, the benefit is clear: “With this model, theoretical topics become visible. This project was also extremely enriching for the course community and showed where creativity is needed.” The model is also used in lower grades in the subject of social studies, providing a hands-on approach to theoretical content.

onoff provided technical support during construction and announced plans for deeper collaboration. Starting next year, an annual internship position will be offered to a student from grade 11. Interested students can apply through their teachers, who will forward recommendations to onoff.

We are also very pleased about the collaboration: “It is close to our hearts to get in touch with interested young people at an early stage and to introduce them to the wide range of training opportunities we offer,” emphasizes Frank Jahr, Managing Director of onoff automation services gmbh.