A new charter in favor of thermal networks in Switzerland
Energy Minister Simonetta Sommaruga and cantonal and communal representatives consolidated their cooperation on Thursday to plan and realize such networks.
The supply of heat via thermal networks has great potential that has not been fully exploited, the Federal Department for the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) points out in a statement on Thursday (file photo) .
KEYSTONE
Cities, municipalities, cantons and the Confederation must accelerate the development of thermal networks such as district heating. Energy Minister Simonetta Sommaruga and cantonal and municipal representatives signed a charter on Thursday for this purpose.
The supply of heat via thermal networks has great potential that is too little exploited, underlines the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) on Thursday in a press release. However, the planning and implementation of such networks are complex and involve the three political levels.
The charter was signed by the head of DETEC, the presidents of the Conference of Cantonal Energy Directors, the Association of Swiss Municipalities and the Union of Swiss Cities. This text aims to consolidate their cooperation in this area.
Three-year program
The development of district heating networks should make it possible to reduce the number of oil and gas heating systems, which are harmful to the climate and subject to strong price fluctuations, emphasizes DETEC. An alternative that is all the more interesting in the current context of rising energy prices.
The charter provides for a three-year programme: this will include the development of guides and aids for implementation. Funding, incentives or energy planning to achieve net zero emissions will also be clarified.
Heating and cooling networks are grouped together under the name “thermal networks”: they include, on the one hand, remote or local heating networks and cooling networks that exploit waste heat, biomass ( wood), biogas, fossil fuels (oil, natural gas) or heat from the subsoil (geothermal), explains DETEC.
On the other hand, they include thermal networking, which allows the joint use by means of heat pumps of the thermal energy of water from lakes, groundwater or water drained from tunnels.
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