300 biomass-fuelled heating plants with Danfoss substations in Austria
And according to Mr. Otto Haberhauer - the manager of the shareholding company Biowärme Schneebergland that runs them all - the biomass must be local. - In times of climate changes it makes no sense that we bring wood chips from far away places like Russia. It has to be local wood so that the transport distance becomes as low as possible, he explains.
The heating plant in Wiesmath consists of two boilers that are fuelled solely by wood chips. That is, most ofthe time only one boiler is in use. The second one is used only when it is really cold or in emergency situations.
The company has 220 shareholders - all farmers from the area around Wiesmath - who are the ones that deliver wood chips to the heating plants. They receive a fixed price that is 15% higher than the market price, and have a long-term contract. This provides them with an income they can count on. The company’s philosophy is that farmers should be paid a fair price and the heating plants shouldn’t necessarily make a profit.
The purpose of Biowärme Schneebergland, which was established in 2000, is basically to build and operate heating plants connected to district heating networks. Today the local farmers deliver 6000 tons of wood chips pr. year divided between the heating plants in several villages - in the land of the 1000 hills as locals call this picturesque area.
Till now Danfoss has supplied more than 300 biomass-fuelled heating plants with substations and other equipment around Austria. This one in Wiesmath is a classical type. - We are solution providers and deliver total substations as a package. Since Danfoss has a long tradition within district heating, we are able to deliver what the customer needs. The dialogue with the customer is very important from day one of the project, Reinhild Horn from Marketing Communication at Danfoss District Heating in Austria explains.
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