Operated by multi-utility company DIN Forsyning, the new heat pump plant will supply approximately 280,000 MWh of climate-neutral heat annually to the district heating networks of Esbjerg and the neighboring town Varde. It will cover the heating needs of 25,000 households, while reducing CO2 emissions by 120,000 tons per year.
Located at the Port of Esbjerg, the plant harnesses renewable energy from nearby wind farms and seawater as a heat source. The facility is part of the transition to replace the city’s coal-fired power plant, which ceased operations, and forms a critical part of Esbjerg’s ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. With a total heating capacity of 70 MW, the CO2-based heat pump system is the largest of its kind ever brought into operation globally. It operates in tandem with a new 60 MW wood chip boiler that uses sustainable wood chips and a 40 MW electric boiler plant, which serves as a peak and backup load facility.
Dr Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Energy Solutions, said: “I’m extremely proud that our Mega Heat Pump is now providing climate-neutral heat to the people of Esbjerg and Varde. As a pioneering city, Esbjerg demonstrates how urban heating systems can be reshaped by harnessing renewable energy sources.”
Helle Damm-Henrichsen, managing director of DIN Forsyning, said: “This is a significant milestone that we have eagerly anticipated for a long time. From now on, all our customers in Varde and Esbjerg will benefit from district heating directly sourced by the North Sea. This achievement is not only transformative for DIN Forsyning but also a major step forward for the climate. While we may be in western Jutland, I believe it’s fair to call this a world premiere: the world’s largest CO2-based seawater heat pump is now producing heat.”
