Together with the Forschungsstelle für Energiewirtschaft e. V. (FfE) and the Energieagentur Kreis Ludwigsburg LEA e. V., a practical guide will be developed by the end of 2026. It is intended to serve as a guide for local authorities, energy suppliers and companies to plan and implement river heat pump projects more easily. An event for stakeholders from the heat supply sector is already planned for July.
River heat: sustainable energy for the entire district
River heat pumps extract thermal energy from bodies of water and make it usable for buildings and heating networks. The principle is similar to classic heat pumps for residential buildings - however, river water rather than outside air is used as the heat source. As rivers have comparatively constant temperatures throughout the year, river heat pumps are particularly efficient. At the same time, no direct CO₂ emissions are produced during operation. The technology is therefore considered a promising building block for operating a climate-neutral heat supply. In addition, river heat is a local energy source and thus makes an important contribution to the regional heat transition.
Handout provides practical tips
The handout, which is currently being compiled, focuses in particular on the topics of approval, technical requirements and economic efficiency. Practical tips are intended to help identify potential hurdles at an early stage and speed up planning processes.
The thermal potential is being analyzed in a preliminary study and presented in clear maps. The focus is on large heat pumps for supplying companies and municipalities.
Further information on the project can be found at:
https://www.landkreis-ludwigsburg.de/klimaschutz/energiewende
