"Since we do not use biomass, we have thus further minimized CO2 emissions by eliminating the need to transport materials such as straw and waste. It also helps to increase the sustainability of the city's district heating and the environmental friendliness of our heat production," says Michael Kurth.
With Sønderborg, Dybbøl Mill and Flensburg Fland as its closest neighbors, Broager is located in the heart of Southern Jutland. The plant is tucked away on the outskirts of the small town. In two workshop-like halls, and with good help from the 10.000 m2 solar panelson the field next door, the plant here produces sustainable district heating for the city's 1200 inhabitants.
Michael Kurth has been in charge of the district heating plant since 2021. He is proud that he has succeeded in producing district heating that is virtually CO2 neutral.
"Our goal is to achieve 100% CO2-neutral heat production. This is done by using a combination of heat pumps, solar collectors, and an electric boiler" says Michael Kurth.
"Since we do not use biomass, we have thus further minimized CO2 emissions by eliminating the need to transport materials such as straw and waste. It also helps to increase the sustainability of the city's district heating and the environmental friendliness of our heat production."
From cool groundwater to heating in living rooms
The crucial goal of Broager District Heating is to ensure a sustainable and stable heat supply to the city's citizens. Here the geothermal heat pumps play a crucial role as the technology is very efficient at utilizing groundwater to generate heat.
Michael Kurth explains that the geothermal heat pump, in simple terms, draws up groundwater which has a temperature of around 11 degrees C into the unit. A compressor then extracts a small amount of excess heat from the water and transfers it through heat exchangers into the district heating system.
The process is powered by electricity, but the overall energy recovery is far more efficient than traditional heating methods of district heating water since the system uses the natural and constant excess heat in the groundwater.
"We measure energy efficiency as a COP (Coefficient of Performance). This measures how much energy we consume in the process in relation to final energy output. In our case, the COP is 4, meaning we get 4 kW of heat out for each 1 kW of electricity that we put in, all year round," explains Michael Kurth. “This adds up to very large, and positive, sustainability impacts.”
ABB's drives optimize the daily operations
District heating production can be complex, especially when different heat sources and systems are being used and must work together. Therefore, it is crucial that daily operations are made as smooth and manageable as possible. And, above all, they must be stable, efficient and reliable.
The Broager heat plant gets several major advantages by using ABB drives to regulate the motor speeds running the compressors. Most important is that they make sure the compressors are running exactly at the specific speed required to get the highest energy efficiency.
"User-friendliness is also an important consideration in our heating system. I think that the operation of the plant's ABB drives on our heat pumps is incredibly intuitive."
"The user interface is designed to be simple and easy to navigate, making it easy for us to put the system into operation without having to read extensive instruction manuals."
The fact that the drives are stable in operation is crucial for the plant to function optimally, Michael Kurth points out.
"Our system was back up and running quickly in just 15 minutes thanks to the competent help we received." 
ABB drives make sure the compressors are running exactly at the specific speed required to get the highest energy efficiency.
"Although we have only needed to contact ABB Support once, we have had a highly efficient and helpful support experience. Our system was back up and running quickly in just 15 minutes thanks to the competent help we received. We have direct access to ABB support in our own language, which means we can address any challenges quickly and efficiently without having to wait for help from a global support center."
Reliable service and advice are highly appreciated
“We attach great importance to providing first-class service and support to our customers,” comments Jørn Schultz, ABB’s Sales Engineer.
"The Broager District Heating Plant is a textbook example of how green technology and collaboration are helping to drive the green transition in our society,” says Jørn Schultz.
“By using the groundwater's natural heat and applying ABB's optimized operation of drive and motor systems, Broager District Heating Plant is leading the way towards more sustainable heat production. With their efforts and continued commitment, I believe there is a bright future for district heating systems where CO2 neutrality and reliable, sustainable heat supply go hand in hand."
FACTS
According to operations manager Michael Kurth, the green energy sources in the Broager District Heating Plant, including the groundwater heat pump and a solar collector plant, accounted for 70% of the plant's total heat production in 2022. This figure is expected to increase further as the plant continues to invest in green technologies and expand its capacity. For examle, a new electric boiler generates 20-25% of the heat production which was earlier produced by two gas boilers.
In addition to green energy sources, Broager District Heating also focuses on energy efficiency and conscious consumption by its consumers. This is done by offering tips and practical advice about energy savings, insulation and upgrading of heating systems.
