LINZ AG is faced with the challenge of completely removing fossil fuels from the district heating system by 2040 and finding an economically viable solution for this. In order to optimise this transformation process, LINZ AG commissioned AIT to prepare the “Energy Generation 2030+” study, which developed a cost-optimised decarbonisation strategy for Linz‘s district heating system. Detailed modelling and analyses were used to examine various scenarios for energy prices, supply options and future district heating requirements. The results enable LINZ AG to manage its investments in a targeted manner and gain long-term planning security.

The study shows that an economically viable, climate-neutral generation mix consists of one third each of waste-fuelled combined heat and power plants, power-to-heat technologies (such as electrode boilers and large heat pumps) and renewable energy sources. Electric boilers and large heat pumps prove to be economically advantageous in all scenarios. Storage solutions, especially large-volume cavern storage facilities with up to one million cubic metres, offer considerable savings potential in the face of rising energy prices. These well-founded findings enable LINZ AG to invest in the right technologies at an early stage and thus secure its competitiveness even in a decarbonised market environment.

While the phasing out of combined heat and power initially increases heat production costs, the integration of industrial waste heat offers significant economic potential. Through the targeted integration of these heat sources, LINZ AG can not only efficiently achieve its decarbonisation targets, but also ensure stable and competitive heat prices in the long term.

The AIT analysis provides LINZ AG with a scientifically sound basis for decision-making in order to secure its district heating supply for the future. The close cooperation with the AIT ensures access to innovative technologies from which other cities such as Salzburg and Vienna are already benefiting.