81.6 million euros for cross-border district heating network

A joint district heating project between Görlitz and the Polish town of Zgorzelec has received crucial funding. As announced by the city, the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control has released a grant of around 81.6 million euros. A concept envisages connecting all five district heating networks in Görlitz and Zgorzelec and operating them in a climate-neutral manner by 2030.

"This funding decision is crucial for the implementation of this project, which is unique in Europe, and for the European City of Görlitz/Zgorzelec to grow together," said Lord Mayor Octavian Ursu.

According to the city, there are currently four separate district heating areas in Görlitz, which mainly obtain their energy from natural gas. In Zgorzelec, there is a district heating network that is operated by burning brown coal. The systems cause annual emissions of 50,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).

The new concept envisages that around a third of the European city's total heating requirements will be covered by heat pumps by 2030. The mayors of the two cities had already signed a declaration of intent to this effect in 2020.