Since 1925, there has been steam in the Copenhagen district heating system, but it is now a thing of the past when Hofor and Copenhagen closed the last remaining steam power plant yesterday.
Thus, Copenhagen will finally switch to 100 percent water-based district heating. The shift saves the city just over 322 million kilowatt-hours compared to 2009, when the conversion work began.
This corresponds to the energy consumption in more than 20,000 apartments and saves Copenhageners DKK 200 million annually.
– Copenhagen is one of the greenest cities in the world. This is partly due to the fact that we long ago replaced petroleum stoves and oil boilers with sustainable district heating on steam and water, which today heats more than 99 per cent of all Copenhageners’ homes. It is green solutions such as our district heating that make Copenhagen a lovely green city to live in in 10, 20 and 50 years – and it contributes to us being able to achieve our ultra-ambitious goal of becoming the world’s first CO2-neutral capital, says Mayor Lars Weiss (S).
The conversion work has been underway for more than ten years. It has not been a small task for Hofor, says supply manager Jane Egebjerg Andersen.
– The project is equivalent to restructuring the entire district heating network in Aalborg. We have added approx. 100 km of pipes and closed 1300 steam power plants. Originally, we had budgeted to be ready in 2025, so it is gratifying to be able to stand here four years earlier thanks to a great effort from the team of internal and external behind the project throughout the years.