Rhine water and waste heat as an energy source for the heating network
AEW Energie AG is investing over CHF 8 million in the new Augst heating network. This is to be operated with 100 per cent renewable heat. Waste heat from the Augst hydropower plant and water from the Rhine will be utilised.
The electricity supplier AEW Energie AG, based in Aarau, is investing over 8 million Swiss francs in the new Augst BL heating network, according to a press release. This will replace the existing AEW contracting plant in Pratteln BL, which is fuelled by wood pellets and oil. The planning application for the heating network, which will run on 100 per cent renewable energy, has been submitted. The first heat supply is scheduled for the 2025/26 heating period.
The heating centre will be built in the machine hall of the Augst power plant and will use the waste heat from the power plant generators and Rhine water as heat sources. The waste heat from the generators is currently discharged unutilised into the Rhine. With this combination, a reliable and sustainable heat supply can be guaranteed, according to AEW. Three heat storage tanks, each with a capacity of 16,000 litres, serve to compensate for fluctuations and ensure a constant supply.
The heat is distributed to the connected buildings via a district heating network that is around 1.3 kilometres long. According to the press release, a total thermal output of 2 megawatts will be provided, with a planned annual heat output of 4,400 megawatt hours in the final stage of expansion. Compared to fossil heating systems, this corresponds to a reduction of around 1200 tonnes of CO2 per year.
According to the press release, AEW began developing heat supply systems in the early 1990s. The first heating network was put into operation 30 years ago in the municipality of Möhlin. Today, AEW operates 75 heating networks and contracting plants for heating and cooling in the canton of Aargau and neighbouring cantons. The current production capacity is over 230 gigawatt hours per year and avoids the emission of around 55,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.