The agglomeration council voted, Monday evening, the future creation of this 50 kilometer long network.
Representing an investment of 140 to 150 million euros for an “objective” of commissioning in 2026, or even from the end of 2025, the project consists of using the “fatal” (surplus) heat released by several companies that are heavy consumers of energy – the glass manufacturer Euroglas, the fertilizer producer Borealis and the companies of the W Europe chemical platform – to transport it to the “heart of the agglomeration” consisting essentially of the city center of Mulhouse, explained Remy Neumann, vice-president of M2A in charge of heating networks.
“Thanks to its potential of more than 200 gigawatt hours per year, we will be able to more than double our production of urban heat”, underlined Fabian Jordan, president of M2A, during a press briefing.
This production capacity of industrial origin corresponds to the heating need of “20,000 housing equivalents”, specified the services of M2A.
It might supply the local car factory of Stellantis, located on the course of the future network, underlined MM. Jordan and Neumann.
Contacted by AFP, a spokeswoman for the factory confirmed “discussions on this subject with M2A, but nothing has been signed yet”.
This waste heat is a “renewable energy, which will replace gas”, said Mr. Neumann.
Its industrial emitters are located near the Rhine, on the outskirts of the territory of the agglomeration community, which explains the length of the pipes that will have to be built: “30 kilometers for transport between the source and the heart of the agglomeration, then 20 km within it”, he added.
