Egtved Varmeværk is a Danish district heating plant located in the town of Egtved in the Danish Region of Southern Denmark. The plant provides centralised  heating to the local community, distributing hot water or steam to residential and commercial buildings or space heating and domestic hot water. The plant set a goal to not only decarbonise its operations; it also aspires to provide consumers with the most competitive prices, expand its fuel options, and implement a robust, forward-looking integrated system, while ensuring operational safety.

With considerations for the project starting back in 2009, and some assistance from Dansk Fjernvarmes Projektselskab, the choice fell upon Linka Group due to their ability to deliver a solution containing a high level of flexibility and security. Linka Group provided a solution containing a fully automated combination plant consisting of a 2MW biomass plant as well as a 2,1 MW heat pump system, with a focus on user-friendliness and a healthy work environment for the operating staff.

Egtved’s district heating plant transitioned to a sustainable energy solution by adopting a diverse range of renewable biomass resources, such as wood chips, straw, grain, and seed husks. This shift ensured a dependable and eco-friendly energy source. The introduction of this integrated system brought about a synergy between biomass and the heat pump which offered flexibility in energy utilisation.

In relation not the transition, Anders Rønshof, Chairman of Egtved Varmeværk stated: “It was important for us to have a future-proof heating plant with the highest possible environmental profile and not just a boiler to burn wood chips.” A multiple choice of biomass could be employed during periods of high electricity prices, while the heat pump could efficiently operate when electricity prices were lower, thus optimising energy costs. The collaboration between biomass, the heat pump, and the existing solar thermal plant enabled the district heating water to attain higher temperatures than what would have been achieved with a heat pump in isolation.

In 2021, Egtved Varmeværk’s District Heating Plant reduced its annual CO2 emissions by 14,000 tonnes. This achievement was made possible while maintaining a  steadfast commitment to operational safety. Moreover, in the subsequent year of operation, the Egtved heating plant effectively lowered the average consumer price for heat.

The innovative multifuel biomass and heat pump solution introduced by Linka Group not only contributed to a substantial reduction in carbon emissions but, when combined with the existing solar thermal plant, also delivered a level of flexibility and reliability in energy generation.