The fact that surplus heat from the upcoming Kassø PtX will flow into the district heating in Rødekro this coming winter does not mean that district heating will be cheaper for consumers at Aabenraa Fjernvarme's approximately 10,000 customers. An average district heating customer now pays around DKK 10,000 annually – which is already at the absolute cheap end.
The flexible agreement that has been concluded between Aabenraa Fjernvarme and Kassø PtX's owner European Energy opens up the possibility for even more surplus heat to flow than the agreement's starting point of 50,000 MWh each year.
- There is still room in the pipes to take a larger amount of surplus heat, promises Aabenraa Fjernvarme's director Tommy Palmholt, before turning to the price question:
- We must be careful not to stare blindly at the price, it will be difficult to have a downward spiral, because then it will be difficult to invest in the new green solutions.
It may not be cheaper, but that does not mean price increases either.
- But we must constantly keep an eye on the price, because we must respect to keep the price down, says the director.
Green plans in the drawer
- We will have green energy in the form of solar and wind in the future, says Tommy Palmholt, who reminds us that the business case must be kept on track.
But it is not the end of PtX in Aabenraa municipality, because European Energy is on the way with another e-fuel plant with an electrolysis capacity of at least 150 MW. It will provide even more surplus heat when that plant becomes a reality near Padborg.
- These are plans that are three times the current size of Kassø PtX. There, European Energy will be able to supply surplus heat to heat 11,000 homes, and that is even a conservative bid. So it's worth keeping an eye on, says Tommy Palmholt.
That's a lot more surplus heat than the border town of Padborg with its 4,300 inhabitants and the local Padborg District Heating could reduce, but a larger district heating solution could be a solution.
- If you lay additional pipes so that the surplus heat can be used in Padborg, Bov, Smedeby, Kruså and Kollund in addition to the industry in Padborg, that could be a solution, explains Tommy Palmholt.
A completely different option could be to export the surplus heat to Flensburg with almost 90,000 inhabitants just south of Padborg in Germany. But that would be a technical challenge.
- There are different system types in Denmark and Germany, where the pipes are smaller, because the Germans have 120 degrees in their district heating. It can be solved technically, but it's not right, says Tommy Palmholt, who has not offered to develop in Padborg.
More district heating customers seem attractive, but it is important to maintain a close relationship with the customers.
- I have passed it on to the municipality, which is in the process of creating a PtX secretariat that will look at the derived options, he says and is pleased with the development:
- It has become so cool to be in Aabenraa Municipality with all the options we have been given.
Tommy Plamholt himself lives in Kliplev in the municipality.
Growth with customer focus intact
At first glance, it might sound as if the opportunities to attract even more district heating customers are attractive. That is not quite the case.
- We need to have a size where customers can still knock on my door. Just try contacting your electricity company, it's difficult. Customers are difficult for them, people who have an opinion about things, phew, says Tommy Palmholt with humorous sarcasm about the fact that electricity companies can be difficult to get in touch with, while he himself likes to hear from customers.
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