District heating system in Luthern
Project
District heating system with wood-fired heating.
Project owner
Sägewerke Christen AG
Initial situation
The sawmill Sägewerke Christen AG operates in the municipality of Luthern in Lucerne’s Napfgebiet, in the midst of a densely-wooded area. It also operates a small heating network within the municipality. The heat is generated with fuel oil and wood, and used amongst others for drying wood as part of the company’s activities. The company realised that the potential existed to cover all municipal requirements with renewable energy, if only the waste wood resulting from processes at the plant were put to energetic use. However, this required an extension of the existing district heating system.
Due to Klimarappen
Thanks to the Foundation’s support, over 20 owners of buildings currently heated with fuel oil, as well as a cheese dairy, were convinced to join the network. Furthermore, the company’s own extension will be supplied with heat generated from wood.
Savings
The reduction in CO2 emissions over the period 2007 to 2012 is expected to be almost 4’600 tonnes, equivalent to annual fuel oil savings of around 300’000 litres.
Investments
The new automated woodchip heating system with a capacity of 2.1 MW involves investment costs of 2.2 million Swiss Francs. The Foundation’s contribution covers almost 20% of these costs.
