Stadtwerke Düsseldorf Issues a Request for Proposals for a Large-Scale Heat Pump
At the Lausward site, water from the Rhine is set to serve as a renewable heat source in the future and meet the heating needs of approximately 40,000 households.
August 5, 2026
Source: E & M powernews
Stadtwerke Düsseldorf is planning a large-scale heat pump on the Rhine. The utility has launched the bidding process.
Stadtwerke Düsseldorf (SWD) haslaunched the bidding process for a large-scale heat pump at the Lausward power plant site, the utility announced on August 4. The plant is intended to extract heat from the Rhine and feed it into the district heating network. According to the company, a thermal output of approximately 120 MW is planned.
With this capacity, the plant could meet the heating needs of approximately 40,000 households. Stadtwerke Düsseldorf aims to use this to convert part of its district heating supply to a renewable heat source. The Lausward site was selected due to its immediate proximity to the Rhine. Implementation of the project is planned for the coming years.
According to the municipal utility, the large-scale heat pump is part of an investment program to transform the energy and heat supply. CEO Julien Mounier estimates the planned investment volume through 2035 at around two billion euros. “By utilizing river heat, we are tapping into a renewable energy source right on our doorstep. The planned capacity demonstrates the contribution that large-scale heat pumps can make to district heating in Düsseldorf in the future,” said Mounier.
For this project, Stadtwerke is receiving funding from the Federal Program for Efficient Heating Networks (BEW). With the launch of the request for proposals, the project award process is now underway. Once the procurement process is complete, the plant will be constructed and gradually brought online.
Author: Heidi Roider
