Business surplus heat to be harnessed in energy partnership

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The aim is to achieve a green energy system that utilizes resources across sectors to achieve a fossil-free industry and heat supply in Frederikssund Municipality.

Challenge

Frederikssund Municipality has a climate strategy that aims to make the municipality's geographical area carbon neutral by 2045. That is why the green transition requires new thinking in all areas, including the energy sector, where 40% of the climate footprint comes from. A further pressure on the transition is rising fossil fuel prices and greater uncertainty about security of supply due, among other things, to the war in Ukraine. At the same time, a number of large energy-heavy companies in Frederikssund Municipality produce a quantity of surplus heat, which is partly wasted.

Ambition

The ambition is to create a green energy system that uses resources across sectors to achieve a fossil-free industry and heat supply in the municipality. At the same time, the Energy Partnership must contribute to greater security of supply and more stable prices for business and consumers.

Solution

Together with the municipality's business organization, Frederikssund Erhverv, Frederikssund Municipality has brought together a number of larger, energy-heavy companies in the municipality as well as utilities in a partnership. The energy partnership currently consists of Topsoe, CO-RO, Croda, Foss and Topsil Globalwafers, as well as Frederikssund Erhverv, Frederikssund Municipality and the two utilities I/S Vestding and E:ON.

The idea is that the companies' surplus heat will be channelled into the district heating network, which is expected to be significantly expanded in the coming years. The idea is also to establish energy-producing communities based on solar and wind energy.

The innovation is the collective approach between different commercial companies as well as the link with the utilities — and in the long term, an inclusion of citizens. Frederikssund Municipality has been involved in the strategic partnership from the beginning and has invested money into the project so that the necessary consulting services could be purchased. Subsequently, the partnership has received funding from the EU's European City Facility Fund of 60,000 Euro. Private companies are also contributing financially and a new application for EU funding is being prepared to realise the project and fulfil its great potential.

Specifically, EU funding of a larger million is being sought during 2023, which will be used to develop a concept for investing and financing energy communities — and ultimately to create a local energy consortium that can provide district heating and power to businesses and citizens in the area.

Results and effects

The Energy Partnership has so far established a number of working groups dealing with different parts of the project: district heating, energy efficiency, electricity supply, self-sufficiency and energy communities, and renewable energy. The project is still at a preparatory level, but has the potential to have a huge impact on climate accounting in the municipality.

Spreading potential

Currently, the energy partnership is a partnership in Frederikssund Municipality. In principle, there is nothing to prevent more companies from participating in the partnership or for other municipalities/regions to copy the process and establish similar energy partnerships elsewhere in the country.

Other messages

The municipality's climate ambitions have been the driving factor in bringing the parties in the energy partnership together. The municipality has the role of obstetrician for the project, but ideally would later be able to withdraw from the partnership. Together, the various private companies can see a better future in being independent of the world fossil fuel market, and therefore the partnership will later be able to continue on its own.