Lucerne is driving forward its district heating network using energy from the lake
The city of Lucerne and the energy supplier ewl have signed a concession agreement to expand a district heating network. The aim is to boost the city’s heat supply using renewable energy from Lake Lucerne. Lucerne aims to use only renewable energy for heating by 2040.
The city of Lucerne and the local utility company energie wasser luzern (ewl) aim to meet part of the city’s heating needs using energy from Lake Lucerne. To implement the project, the city council has asked the city parliament to approve a concession agreement for the expansion of a pipeline system, according to a press release.
Such an agreement is necessary to enable the pipes to be laid largely underground and along the course of roads, i.e. on public land. ewl Rohrnetz AG is to be commissioned to construct the pipework. The ewl subsidiary will expand the existing thermal network and connect new areas. This involves the extension of the See-Energie Luzern-Zentrum network and the construction of new networks for See-Energie Luzern on the left and right banks of the lake respectively.
Under the contract, ewl Rohrnetz AG undertakes to connect the sub-areas in stages, offer connections and supply heat. The city is waiving concession fees and guarantees a concession term of 50 years, which may be extended once by ten years. “The signing of this agreement is a milestone on the path towards the city of Lucerne’s goal of a fully renewable energy supply,” Environment and Mobility Director Marco Baumann is quoted as saying in the press release. “The concession agreement encourages ewl to work with the city to implement thermal networks and to master the heat transition in partnership. By supplying energy from the lake, we are ensuring that we will have environmentally friendly and reliable heating and hot water in the city of Lucerne in future,” said Martin Arnold, member of the Executive Board and Head of the Implementation Division at ewl.
The concession agreement is due to be discussed by the city council on 25 June 2026. If approved, it is set to come into force on 1 October 2026. Lucerne aims to use only renewable energy for heating by 2040.