Prime Minister Pays a Visit to the River-Based Thermal Energy Pump
In a significant stride towards a greener future, MVV's first river heat pump was commissioned in October 2023, marking the start of its operation in the heart of Mannheim. This groundbreaking development was welcomed by Minister President Winfried Kretschmann and his delegation, who visited the machine hall of the MVV river heat pump.
Dr. Gabriele Clemens, CEO of MVV, expressed her delight at the occasion, stating that the first MVV river heat pump can serve as a model for other cities striving to decarbonize their district heating systems. The heat pump, with a thermal output of 20 megawatts (MWth), uses the Rhine water as a climate-neutral heat source and theoretically supplies around 3,500 households with district heat.
Mayor Christian Specht highlighted the importance of expanding and decarbonizing district heating as crucial for Mannheim's goal of becoming climate-neutral. Dr. Hansjörg Roll, CTO of MVV, further emphasized that by 2030, MVV aims to generate all district heat in Mannheim and the region from climate-friendly energy sources.
The commissioning of the first MVV river heat pump is a key component in making Mannheim's district heating climate-neutral in the future. MVV's commitment to this goal is part of a broader strategy, a triad of heat transition, power transition, and green customer solutions, culminating in their ambitious goal of becoming #climatepositive by 2035.
Minister President Kretschmann praised the progress of MVV in decarbonizing heat supply, acknowledging that it is a challenge but impressed with MVV's approach. The first MVV river heat pump contributes significantly to reducing Mannheim's CO2 footprint.
Today, energy from the thermal waste treatment plant, biomass combined heat and power plant, and the river heat pump is used for the central district heating network in Mannheim. In the future, MVV plans to explore further options like deep geothermal energy, additional river heat pumps, and the utilization of additional industrial waste heat to make Mannheim's energy supply climate-neutral.
The commissioning of the first MVV river heat pump is a significant milestone for the city and region, underscoring MVV's potential in decarbonizing heat networks and setting a benchmark with large heat pumps. This development underscores Mannheim's commitment to a sustainable future and serves as a beacon for other cities embarking on their own heat transition journeys.
