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Heat Highway Project: Achievements in Supra-Regional Heat Transmission for Decarbonisation

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by Oxana Schmidt

The Heat Highway project, carried out between March 2021 and August 2024, has achieved significant milestones in advancing the use of industrial waste heat for district heating systems, marking a pivotal step in Austria's transition to a resilient and efficient energy future. The project, co-funded by the Climate and Energy Funds and the State of Upper Austria, and managed by FFG, brought together 17 project partners to develop innovative solutions for supra-regional district heating networks (SRDHN).

The core aim of Heat Highway was to explore the potential of integrating industrial waste heat into large-scale district heating networks. By creating connections between multiple regions, the project sought to expand the use of industrial waste heat, which is often underutilised, especially in the summer months when it exceeds local heating demand. This challenge is being addressed by creating heat transmission networks that can distribute waste heat across longer distances, connecting various heat sources, industrial sites, and consumers, while ensuring a resilient and cost-effective energy supply.

Key Achievements

1. Supra-Regional District Heating Networks

The Heat Highway project has made significant progress in creating supra-regional district heating networks, addressing a gap in the market. By examining the feasibility of connecting industrial waste heat sources with heating grids across different regions, the project has advanced the idea of networks extending beyond local borders, potentially covering distances of up to 150 km.

2. Industrial Waste Heat Integration

The project demonstrated how industrial waste heat from large-scale factories and other industrial processes can be successfully integrated into district heating systems, helping to decarbonise the energy supply. A notable achievement was the analysis and planning of three SRDHNs in Upper Austria and Styria, focusing on areas like Linz and the Mur-Mürz region.

3. Innovative Technology

One of the major successes was the development of advanced tools for flow dynamics in heat networks and the economics of integration. The Heat Highway prototype demonstrator, displayed at the Ars Electronica Center in Linz, showcases the innovative solutions developed throughout the project.

4. Policy and Legal Framework

The Heat Highway project also delved into the regulatory and legal aspects of integrating waste heat, providing valuable insights for future legislative frameworks. The project also suggested improvements in EU directives (such as RED III) that could better integrate waste heat into the renewable energy system, providing a clearer legal path for its utilisation.

5. Collaborative Business Models

One of the project's significant outcomes was the development of new business models for industrial waste heat cooperation. By engaging stakeholders and addressing the challenges of coordinating multiple parties, Heat Highway has laid the groundwork for sustainable, long-term business models that support the economic viability of waste heat utilisation.

The Future of Heat Highway

The insights and tools developed in Heat Highway are already contributing to broader applications. The results are not only relevant for Austria but are also being shared across Europe to help replicate successful systems in other regions. By advancing research and optimisation, Heat Highway aims to provide a scalable solution for industrial regions worldwide, reducing CO2 emissions and supporting the global transition to sustainable energy systems.

In addition to these significant achievements, the findings and successes from the Heat Highway project have been carried forward into its follow-up initiative, Future Heat Highway. This new project continues to build on the work done in Heat Highway, leveraging the insights gained to further advance the integration of industrial waste heat into district heating systems and to accelerate the transition to a decarbonised energy future.

As part of its ongoing dissemination efforts, the project will continue raising awareness about the potential of industrial waste heat through publications, demonstrations, and stakeholder events. With its focus on innovation, collaboration, and system-wide integration, Heat Highway is continuing to pave the way for a sustainable, decarbonised energy future.

For further details on the project's findings and the final report, please refer to the official Heat Highway Final Report and upcoming scientific publications.

Project Partners

The Heat Highway project was carried out by a diverse group of industry and research organisations, including:

Heat Highway is an exemplary project demonstrating the potential for industrial waste heat to play a crucial role in the transition towards a climate-neutral future. Through its successful implementation, it offers a scalable model for connecting waste heat sources to district heating networks, laying the foundation for similar projects globally.

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