What is the potential of geothermal energy for heat transformation in cities?
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Winterthur is one of the first cities to have received the European Energy Award Gold (in 2007). In line with the Paris Agreement, the Swiss city has the ambition to reach zero greenhouse gas emissions and 100% renewable energy sources by 2050. The city’s new action and energy plan intends to extend zones to phase-out gas connections from existing buildings.
Winterthur will use Decarb City Pipes 2050 to substantiate the updated plan with advice from other partners. On the other hand, outcomes of this process will be shared with the consortium.
Due to specific Swiss framework conditions, Winterthur – like many other Swiss cities – has a tradition of data based spatial energy planning. Winterthur’s zoning is a result of negotiation with key stakeholders. This experience will be very valuable for the other cities.
Winterthur faces barriers very similar to those in the other cities: elevated price of district heating, market regulation barriers, (long) amortisation time of existing gas pipes etc. Discussions in the local working group and with the different stakeholders will contribute to finding solutions on these barriers.
