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Why District Heating Matters for Concrete Production in Europe

With European countries looking firmly towards a greener future, district heating is increasingly becoming part of the energy plans across the continent. For concrete manufacturers, district heating not only presents an opportunity for increased efficiency but also provides a growing opportunity for a cleaner and more sustainable production process.

Benefits Outweigh the Challenges

Decarbonization

With the integration of district heating, the consumption of fossil fuels can be substituted with greener energy. In Finland, 48% of the district heating in 2024 was generated using renewable energies. Scandinavian countries have widely adopted district heating, and this trend is now being observed in other countries across Europe.

In Germany, the political aim is to increase the proportion of renewable energy and waste heat in district heating to 50% by 2030, according to VKU (Verband kommunaler Unternehmen). As the the carbon footprint of district heating decreases, it opens up more opportunities for concrete producers who have adapted district heating to achieve decarbonization.

Overall Energy Efficiency

Concrete production can reduce its overall energy consumption by optimizing energy use through waste heat from cogeneration plants or industrial processes. District heating systems are also found to be 20-25% more energy-efficient than decentralized heating systems.

Solved Challenges

During cold winter conditions, district heating systems can sometimes face challenges. At Polarmatic, we have developed a solution to address this issue. Our automated combination system switches to an alternative heating source when temperatures drop too low for district heating to work effectively. TURBOMATIC heating solutions are designed to seamlessly integrate with district heating systems.

“Being from Finland, we have a deep understanding of working in extreme conditions. Expertise stemming from this is at the core of our products, ensuring reliability and performance, regardless of the weather.”

-Mia Kauhanen, CEO of Polarmatic

Growth with District Heating

District heating networks are becoming increasingly prevalent. For instance, Germany’s Heat Planning Act (WPG) of 2023 mandates that all municipalities create a municipal heat plan. Municipalities with over 100,000 residents must submit their plans by mid-2026, while smaller municipalities have a deadline of 2028. Similar trend is also being observed throughout Europe.

As the availability of district heating increases, businesses in the concrete sector can realize benefits and gain valuable experience by integrating these systems into their operations.

Would you like to discuss this further? Please contact us via: sales@polarmatic.com or one of our team members.