Large-scale decarbonisation through district heating expansion in Zurich
The city of Zurich wants to achieve its net-zero target by 2040. To achieve this, the city council is pushing for the expansion of district heating under the umbrella of the city's electricity utility (ewz) and is applying for a framework credit of CHF 2.26 billion.
The city of Zurich wants to reduce CO2 emissions to net zero by 2040. In order to achieve this goal, thermal networks and a district heating network are to be significantly expanded. According to a press release, the city council is proposing a new framework credit of CHF 2.26 billion to voters. This credit includes the funds from the credits of CHF 330 million and CHF 573 million already approved in 2021 and 2022.
The new loaned funds are intended to take into account both the increased financial requirements for the expansion of thermal grids and their degree of greening. Currently, 70 per cent of the energy generated by existing networks is fossil-free; the target is 100 per cent.
“We want to double the proportion of the city supplied with district heating to around 60 per cent of the residential area by 2040. This is a generational project and requires a major expansion of the infrastructure. This will require major investments,” said City Councillor Michael Baumer, Head of the Department of Industrial Operations, in the press release.
The entire project to reorganise the city’s heating supply, including the consolidation of all thermal networks in the city, is to be carried out under the umbrella of Elektrizitätswerk der Stadt Zürich(ewz).