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Project launch for large heat pump in Schwedt

Schwedt will in future supplement the district heating from the PCK refinery with a 1 MW large wastewater-based heat pump - with funding from the federal government.

22.08.2025

Source: E & M powernews

The town of Schwedt in Brandenburg uses waste heat from the local PCK oil refinery. Now a large heat pump is being added to the heat supply.

The construction of a large heat pump in the town of Schwedt can now begin. Following the positive funding decision, Stadtwerke Schwedt can implement the project together with the Ostuckermärkische Abwasserwirtschaft (ZOWA) association.

"The aim of the project is not to replace the existing district heating supply from the PCK, but to supplement it with an additional, environmentally friendly heat source," Reiner Buchholz from Stadtwerke Schwedt is quoted as saying on the company's website.

The plant will have an output of 1 MW and provide around 8 million kWh of heat per year. The basis for heat generation is the purified wastewater, which was previously discharged unused. Shortly before it is discharged into the sewer, the constant temperature level is used to recover energy with the help of the heat pump.

The investment sum is around 3 million euros, of which 1.1 million euros will be financed via the federal program "Federal funding for efficient heating networks". Zowa is providing the necessary land and, together with the municipal utilities, is examining whether the heat recovered can also be used directly for the sewage treatment plant itself. This would reduce natural gas consumption and cut CO2 emissions in sewage treatment plant operations.

After its planned completion in 2028, the large heat pump will feed its heat into the municipal utility's district heating network. The local district heating network supplies over 90 percent of households in the core area. However: "Even after the large heat pump goes into operation, the heat supply from the PCK will continue," it continues.

Stadtwerke Schwedt is planning a further expansion of district heating in the inner city area. Concrete decisions on this will be made as part of the municipal heating planning process, which will start this summer. "The first results are expected at the end of 2026 or beginning of 2027," concludes Stadtwerke Schwedt.

Stefan Sagmeister