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City of Aarhus seeking support of Danish government for geothermal heating project

City of Aarhus seeking support of Danish government for geothermal heating project View over the city of Aarhus, Denmark (source: flickr/ IMBiblio, creative commons)
Alexander Richter 6 Dec 2020

For its planned geothermal district heating project, the city of Aarhus in Denmark is seeking support from the Danish government in the form of better framework conditions for development.

Last week, the city of Aarhus in Denmark received Dan Jørgensen, the Danish Minister of Energy. His visit was aimed to  hear more about the municipality’s geothermal project, which has the ambition to supply green district heating to the people of Aarhus using hot water from the underground. However, the project requires a helping hand from the government in Copenhagen if it is to become a reality and therefore the Minister came to Aarhus to hear more.

Aarhus Municipality has an ambition to create Europe’s largest geothermal plant, which when completed can cover 20 percent of the need for heat in Aarhus – equivalent to 36,000 households.

The Minister of Energy’s visit comes shortly before the parliamentary parties are to start the upcoming energy negotiations. In addition, the parties behind the climate agreement have committed each other to looking at the framework conditions for geothermal district heating. The negotiations will be important for whether the project in Aarhus can be completed.

Mayor Jacob Bundgsgaard looks forward to presenting the municipality’s work to the minister. “It is a form of energy that has the potential to be rolled out in large parts of Denmark as an indispensable piece in the energy supply of the future. And in Aarhus, we want to take the lead and take the first steps in the very ambitious and green project. Therefore, we also hope for a clarification of the framework conditions for geothermal energy soon,” says the mayor.

Renewable source of green energy

One of the benefits of geothermal energy is that it is an inexhaustible, renewable source of green energy. Geothermal energy is independent of day, night, wind and weather.

One of the great advantages of geothermal energy is that it is an inexhaustible, renewable source of green district heating. Geothermal energy is independent of day, night, wind and weather.

“In Aarhus Municipality, we believe very much in geothermal energy, as an important green energy source. We have no doubt that it is the right thing for Denmark to invest in this technology. And therefore we are also really happy that we get the opportunity to pass on that knowledge to the Minister prior to the energy negotiations, so we ensure framework conditions that promote the form of energy,” says Bünyamin Simsek, Councilor, Technology and Environment, Aarhus Municipality.

Source: Amtsavisen