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Thermal grids
The story of district heating
The idea of using surplus heat from large energy and waste incineration plants for heating and heating requirements in settlements and service centers is very useful. The district heating concepts of the 1960s and 1970s were famous; “Energie 2000”, the predecessor program of Energie Schweiz, specifically promoted the use of waste heat with district heating. And today, against the backdrop of the use of larger wood and geothermal power plants, lake, river and groundwater uses, thermal networks are once again up to date — especially in the area of renewable energies.
Zunehmend gewinnt auch die Fernkälte an Bedeutung. Die Zahl der Hitzetage sowie die Anzahl an Wärmequellen in Gebäuden hat in den letzten Jahren stark zugenommen. Um eine klimafreundliche Kühlmöglichkeit zu schaffen, kann zusätzlicher Einsatz von Fernkälte eine sinnvolle Lösung sein. Dies wird oft in Kombination mit dem Bau des Fernwärmenetzes realisiert.
Somit gewinnen die thermischen Netze nebst der klassischen Verteilung von Abwärme, durch den Einsatz von Biomasse und Geothermie-Kraftwerken, sowie der Nutzung von See-, Fluss- und Grundwasseranlagen zunehmend an Bedeutung.
The significance in the Energy Strategy 2050
As part of the Energy Strategy 2050, district heating will now also receive a lot of support, as distribution in Switzerland has only reached around 5%. Other countries, such as Denmark, account for over 70%. Following the oil crisis in 1993, Denmark changed its incentive systems and later also the laws to make this success story possible. In Switzerland, we also expect massive expansion over the next few years.
In this context, district heating is now receiving increased support, particularly in view of the fact that its prevalence in Switzerland is currently only around 5%. In comparison, the share of district heating in countries such as Denmark is already over 70%. Following the oil crisis in 1993, Denmark made targeted adjustments to both incentive systems and legislation, which enabled the impressive success of this development. In Switzerland, we are facing a similar development and expect a massive expansion of district heating in the coming years. We are convinced that the consistent expansion of the thermal networks in Switzerland is necessary to achieve these goals.
How district heating works
Since district heating is not a separate raw material, it is usually produced by burning other raw materials in a central plant — for example a combined heat and power plant, a waste or wood chip incineration plant. The heat is made available to customers in the form of hot water via a closed pipeline circuit consisting of flow and return flows, for heating and hot water treatment. Refrigeration circuits can also be implemented — for example, seawater is used for cooling in summer.
It is also possible to realise cooling circuits. In such cases, for example, seawater is used for cooling in summer. This illustrates the versatility and flexibility of district heating, which can be used not only for heating but also for cooling, depending on the needs and requirements of the consumer.
Sustainability in German-speaking Switzerland
We build district heating networks throughout German-speaking Switzerland from sustainable sources that are irreplaceable for the decarbonization of Switzerland. Larger sources of waste heat (waste incineration plants, wood chip centers) serve as heat sources. District heating, local heating and district cooling are irreplaceable for the energy revolution and our subsidiary Lehmann 2000 is one of the leading independent service providers in this sector. Wherever top quality is required — the team from the Zofinger company is used.
House connections
Depending on local conditions, we will completely install the connection from the main district heating supply network directly to your property. This includes not only the installation and high-precision welding of the necessary lines, but also the professional installation of the transfer station to ensure an efficient and safe heat supply. Our competent service includes comprehensive advice and planning to ensure that the transfer station is optimally tailored to the specific needs and requirements of your property.
Secondary Renovation
We specialize in converting existing heating plants in order to convert them from conventional fossil fuels, such as oil or gas heating systems, to a modern district heating system. First, the old oil tank system or the existing gas supply will be dismantled. We then dismantle the boiler system to make room for the new technology. The decisive step is the precise connection of the existing heat distribution systems to the newly installed district heating transfer station. Our goal is to ensure a seamless transition and significantly improve efficiency and the transition to a green heat supply.
Benefits of district heating
for companies
Climartis district heating solutions offer companies numerous benefits, both in terms of the environment and operation. By using district heating, companies can significantly reduce their CO2 footprint and optimize their energy consumption at the same time.
