Kultur Energie Bunker Altona Projekt

About

Built between 1941 and 1943, the WW2 bunker in Altona’s Schomburgstraße provided 1.650 sheltered beds. [2] In the 1970s, it was extended as a nuclear shelter, providing shelter to over 3.000 people. [1;2] Since it is located in the middle of a heating network, as well as in the middle of a residential neighbourhood, a group of citizens saw its potential as a place for a decentralised energy network – and the non-profit associations KEBAP (KulturEnergieBunkerAltonaProjekt; translated in English: Culture-Energy-Bunker-Altona-Project) was created to realise this. [1]

The initiative’s main aim is to create space for culture and generate decentralised energy simultaneously in a democratic and participatory manner. It wishes to provide both energies in terms of heat and electricity, as well as in terms of human and creative energy. KEBAP has two pillars, one focused on creating renewable energy and stimulating community-organised culture.

The cultural side of the project is aimed at providing space for the creativity of citizens from all social strata to unfold – mainly focused on the themes of sustainability, participation, social inclusion and culture. There are regular workshops, as well as repair labs. Guided tours of the bunker are organised, and there are performances and exhibitions. The space around the bunker has been utilised to create a community garden and kitchen. Once the planned refurbishment of the bunker has taken place, around 1.000m2 of cultural space will become available on the eastern side of the bunker. Rehearsal rooms for musicians will become available at an affordable price. It is planned that citizens can avail of the space for free to organise activities, including film screenings, exhibitions, performances and lectures. A fab lab is also planned to enable innovative projects that foster social and cultural production. [1;3]

The western side of the bunker is reserved for energy generation. For almost ten years, the initiative has been working on a feasibility study and concept plan to generate decentralised, renewable energy and heat on site that can be utilised by the neighbourhood in which the bunker is based. A technical and economically viable concept has been developed, and currently, a business plan is being drawn up for the construction and operations of the KEBAP energy centre. [1;3] From 2025 onwards, the bunker is supposed to produce renewable energy for around 1000 households, as well as a nearby swimming pool and school. [1;4]

Governance

Citizens have established KEBAP e.V. to conduct the project, a citizen-based non-profit organisation. They have been designing plans to utilise the bunker for local energy production and cultural activities for over ten years. The bunker used to be owned by the national government of Germany and was managed by the BIMA (Institute for Federal Real Estate). When it finally ceased its function to protect citizens, the District of Altona spoke in favour of KEBAP e.V. as future site tenants. Since 2018, a usage agreement between KEBAP e.V., the Altona District Office and the BIMA enabled the community group to utilise the space. [1]

Together with a series of partners, KEBAP e.V. managed to get the City of Hamburg to buy the site from the National Government. In 2020, the bunker became under the ownership of the City of Hamburg, when BIMA sold it for a reasonable price, under the condition that a public welfare project was implemented within five years. In 2021, KEBAP e.V. got the exclusive rights for planning for two years, and a long-term lease is being designed by the City of Hamburg that will provide the bunker to KEBAP e.V. for free for 60 years, provided that KEBAP e.V. can secure financing for the refurbishment of the bunker. [1;3]

Next to KEBAP e.V, a citizen cooperative named KEGA eG was established in 2015. This cooperative will focus on realising the production and sales of energy. It aims to raise €200.000. [1;4] It cooperates with Green Planet Energy eG, an eco-energy cooperative, who will also become a shareholder in the energy centre. [1]

Business Model

KEBAP e.V. has been able to utilise crowdfunding, donations and membership fees of the association to make small investments on site. This includes, for example, the acquisition of a trailer that enabled the permanent presence of KEBAP on the site. [1] The City of Hamburg has financed the purchase of the bunker. [1;3]

A technical and economic feasibility study was conducted with funding from The Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA). They provided 60% of the €235.000 through the funding programme ‘Federal funding for efficient heating networks (4.0)’. The remaining 40% came from KEGA eG’s own funds and funding from the project partner Green Planet Energy eG. According to the feasibility study results, the total investment in the energy centre will amount to approximately €11.000.000. [1]

Currently, a business plan is devised, together with Green Planet Energy eG. The generated heat and energy sales will provide an income for the initiative. Moreover, rental income can be generated from the spaces that will become available to artists, musicians or others active in the creative industries. [1]