Construction of the water intake and hydraulic infrastructure for Europe’s largest river water heat pump with a thermal capacity of 150 MW, supporting the climate-neutral district heating supply of the City of Cologne.
Location:
Cologne / Germany
Build time:
01/2025 – 05/2028
Client:
RheinEnergie AG
River Water Heat Pump Cologne
With Europe’s largest river water heat pump, a major milestone is being created for climate-neutral heat supply in Cologne-Niehl. STRABAG is contributing to the project by constructing the water intake and hydraulic infrastructure needed to harness the renewable energy stored in the Rhine River for district heating.
A large-scale heat pump with a thermal capacity of 150 MW is being built in Cologne-Niehl. The facility will use the energy stored in the Rhine and will play a significant role in providing environmentally friendly district heating for the city of Cologne. Once operational, it will be capable of supplying sustainable heat to up to 50,000 households.
Scope of services
Together with its project partners, STRABAG is responsible for the water intake system from the Rhine, including the required hydraulic engineering and environmental protection infrastructure. The scope of work includes:
- Construction of the river water intake structure
- Development of water pumping and transport infrastructure
- Implementation of fish protection systems and ecological safeguard measures
- Integration of the facilities into the overall large-scale heat pump system
- Creation of the infrastructure required for sustainable heat generation from Rhine water
Project description
The facility uses water from the Rhine as a renewable energy source. Through a dedicated intake system, river water is transported to the heat pump, where the naturally stored environmental heat is extracted and upgraded to a temperature suitable for district heating. After the heat has been utilized, the slightly cooled water is returned to the Rhine.
With a total thermal output of 150 MW, the plant will become the largest river water heat pump in Europe. It represents a key component of Cologne’s heating transition strategy and supports the decarbonization of the city’s energy supply.
Sustainability
The project enables the use of a locally available, renewable energy source and reduces dependence on fossil fuels. By integrating the large-scale heat pump into the district heating network, the project will make a substantial contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions. At the same time, it will help establish a future-proof and resilient heating supply for the Cologne region.