The initiative, called Ledning Vest, will significantly expand the district heating network on the mainland. Sønderborg Varme plans to connect five villages and several businesses to the green heating supply. This expansion supports the area’s goal of creating a sustainable future.

A part of: Change Energy and Recycle energy

1200

households are expected to switch to district heating with the expansion.

1350

households is equivalent to the district heating consumption at the slaughterhouse.

The Ledning Vest initiative is a key part of the effort to achieve climate-neutral energy in the Sønderborg area by the end of 2029. The project will significantly expand the district heating network on the mainland by connecting five villages — Vester Sottrup, Nybøl, Ullerup, Avnbøl, and Blans — as well as the slaughterhouse in Blans and potentially two brickworks.

The expansion involves linking the existing district heating systems in Gråsten and Sønderborg, while laying new district heating pipes in the villages. This will enable residents in the affected towns to replace their oil and gas boilers with the climate-friendly district heating solution.

Another major benefit of expanding the district heating network is the improved ability to utilize excess heat from industry. The Danish Crown slaughterhouse in Blans and the brickworks in Nybøl and Gråsten are good examples of this.

While residential heating demand drops in summer, the slaughterhouse’s heat consumption remains consistently high throughout the year. Similarly, the brickworks use ovens operating at over 1000 degrees Celsius in their production process, generating significant amounts of excess heat. Some of this excess heat is already used on-site by the brickworks themselves, while the remainder can be fed into the district heating network, where the slaughterhouse’s constant heat demand allows for optimal utilization.

When the slaughterhouse in Blans is connected to the district heating network, its consumption will correspond to that of 1,350 households. The connection of the brickworks is not yet finalized, but efforts are underway to realize this.

The project is built on strong local engagement, and this initiative is a great example of the broad collaboration that characterizes the Sønderborg area.

By connecting multiple energy sources and recycling heat, a circular energy supply is created that reduces both energy waste and the carbon footprint. The expansion of the district heating network is therefore an important milestone in Sønderborg Municipality’s green transition.