Expansion of green district heating in Hannover • Consumer Association calls for a price cap on District Heating • Read more about the developments in sustainable heating and cooling in this month's news update from Germany
The city of Hanover is taking another step toward climate neutrality with Enercity and EEW Energy. The cooperation is expanding to use climate-neutral waste heat to support the phase-out of coal. The collaboration also implies, optimizing the use of waste heat from the existing EEW waste-to-energy plant. As part of this, the plant’s waste heat output will be increased from 50 to up to 85 megawatts.
The significance of this step for the energy transition in Germany is significant to rapidly and timely phase-out of coal. The project is based on a long-term contract between Enercity and EEW until 2055 that supports the state capital’s green district heating supply.
The investment implies tapping into additional potential for waste heat utilization which will enable the city to increase the efficiency of the current plant and boost waste heat output – without burning more waste. The plant conversion is scheduled for completion by early 2027. At the same time, Enercity is expanding its district heating network so that a decision can be made in the future as to whether more heat or more electricity will be produced.
Read more in article from Zeitung für Kommunale Wirtschaft
According to a recent analysis of 576 heating network by the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (VZBV), prices for district heating vary greatly between regions. In one out of four district heating networks, consumers pay 20 cents per kilowatt hour or more, and in almost one in ten networks, they pay as much as 25 cents per kWh. Following this, the association are proposing new rules and calling for a legal price cap based on the operating costs of a heat pump. In addition, independent price supervision should be introduced to ensure transparency and fairness.
The association is also campaigning for equal financial support for heating networks and heat pumps in order to create a level playing field. Aligned with this, the District Heating Ordinance must therefore be modernized as a matter of urgency to reduce the cost burden on households and promote the expansion of consumer-friendly heating networks.
District heating is notorious for prices that are often difficult to understand and with differences between different supply areas. This often leads to dissatisfaction among customers. On the other hand, central energy supply in a district heating network can often be designed very efficiently and easily converted to renewable energy sources. For example, waste heat from waste incineration plants is frequently used.
Read more in article from SPIEGEL Wirtschaft
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