River heat pumps: heating forces from the Rhine, Elbe and Isar for our households!

River heat pumps: heating forces from the Rhine, Elbe and Isar for our households!

Oder-Spree, Deutschland - In recent years, the discussion about alternative heating methods has noticeably recorded speed. Above all, the use of flowing waters for heat generation shows great potential. This is particularly demonstrated by the latest study by the TU Braunschweig, which realizes that rivers such as the Elbe, Isar or Spree can store large amounts of heat. According to Süddeutsche, the water temperatures rarely decrease below 6 degrees, not even in frosty times. This could cover rivers up to 94% of the German heat requirement in the low temperature range.

A clear example of the practical implementation of this technology is the creation of the Mannheim supplier MVV, which has been in operation since October 2023. Around 1000 liters of water from the Rhine are removed per second to gain heat, which is then fed into the district heating network. The cooled water flows directly back into the river and currently supplies around 3,500 households. A larger heat pump is planned, which is due to supply around 40,000 households by autumn 2028. This shows how promising the technology is when it is implemented sensibly.

use the potential of the rivers

Another examination speaks of an annual heat potential of 430.8 to 861.5 TWh, which corresponds to up to 35.8% of the final energy requirement in Germany. These numbers, as explained by Region N, require a powerful strategy for the integration of flow water heat into municipal heat supply. It would be a big step to use the existing hydraulic engineering infrastructures, such as hydropower plants, for heat removal. These systems not only have the right to take water, but also the necessary technical equipment.

In addition to the technical feasibility, there are also ecological advantages. As experts note, a temperature deprivation of only two Kelvin from the flowing waters can contribute significantly to the climate adjustment and improve the living conditions in the ecosystem. In addition, the water temperatures have already increased by 3 to 4 degrees due to climate change, which extends the possible uses. A conscious handling of these resources could therefore bring both ecological and economic advantages.

movements in the area of ​​heat pump technology

heat pumps have long since come from their original scope in single -family houses. According to Fraunhofer ISE, you are also suitable for large buildings and entire residential areas today. These systems now have to flow into the planning for the municipal heating networks. In Germany, in addition to the Mannheim installation, there are only four other river heat pumps in operation, while three are under construction and eight in the planning phase. This shows that despite the existing potential there is still a lot of room for improvement.

The challenge is not only in technology. A incomplete legal framework and high electricity prices slow down the development. It is to be hoped that the new political measures to reduce electricity prices will also promote the operation of these environmentally friendly technologies. Municipalities are encouraged to operate their heat networks 30% with renewable energies by 2030 - an opportunity to make river heat accessible to wider use.

The possibilities are given and the time to act is now. Let us be surprised at what developments the future brings in this area.