klimaaktiv Heizwerke und Wärmenetze

The program klimaaktiv “Heizwerke und Wärmenetzek” focuses on the following key topics:

• Support and further development of the quality management system for heating plants and district heating networks (QM for Biomass DH Plants)
• Quality assurance for pipeline-based heat supply (optimisation, efficiency improvement, transformation for sustainable resource use)
• Networking and training of stakeholders, (inter)national exchange of experiences
• Preparation and dissemination of know-how for (GIS-supported) spatial heat planning and efficient construction and expansion of district heating networks
• Support for the modernization, defossilization, and diversification of district heating systems
• Waste heat utilisation and integration of renewable heat sources
• Support for national funding agencies (KPC, federal states) and the contracting authority BMK

The district heating infrastructure is central for achieving climate neutrality. klimaaktiv Heizwerke und Wärmenetze connects and supports stakeholders in this sector and manages the nationwide quality management system “QM Heizwerke” (the Austrian implementation of QM for Biomass DH Plants).

QM for Biomass DH Plants aims to optimize existing and new systems both technically and economically—from planning through commissioning to continuous operation optimisation. Target is to ensure the sustainability of renewable heat supply and the efficient use of subsidies. For systems from 10 heat consumers and external heat sales from 800 MWh/year, the application of QM Heizwerke and data entry to the QM database is mandatory to receive public subsidies in Austria.

The quality management system is continuously developed in cooperation with the international working group ARGE QM Holzheizwerke and has led to significant improvements in the quality of biomass heating plants and local heating networks in Austria due to its clearly structured guidelines. Long-term goals include expansion to microgrids as well as larger district heating systems.

Since 2023, additional areas of focus have been included, such as (GIS-supported) municipal heat planning, low-temperature and microgrids, and the modernization of urban district heating systems. The latter involves defossilisation and the integration of waste heat and renewable heat sources. The program has been led by AEE INTEC since 2015, with support from the Salzburg Institute for Spatial Planning (SIR) and the Energy Agency of Graz (GEA).