A forward-looking heating plant makes a significant contribution to decarbonization
The Schmid Mawera Group is ready to do its part in implementing the European ETS-2 decarbonization program and to support its partners in addressing the challenges of climate change.
Maximizing the Use of Renewable Energy – Smart, Multimodal, and Highly Efficient – Aesch (BL) Heating Network, Switzerland
With the new heating plant for the Aesch (BL) heating network, Primeo Energie is setting new standards for sustainable district heating and making a significant contribution to decarbonization. The smart heating plant combines various, optimally coordinated technologies into a highly efficient integrated system. This enables resource-efficient and cost-effective heat production in both summer and winter.
The result is a heating plant that, with a capacity of 5.8 MW, produces CO₂-neutral heat for approximately 1,600 households. The municipality of Aesch thus saves about 3,000 metric tons of CO2 annually.
Intelligently Combined Technology for Maximum Efficiency
At the heart of the system are two Schmid-Mawera moving grate boilers with a total rated output of 3.6 MW, as well as a 1-MW compression heat pump that switches its heat source seasonally. While outside air is used in the summer, the heat pump utilizes energy from the flue gas condensation of the wood combustion systems in the winter. This ensures that the potential of renewable energy sources is optimally harnessed year-round.
Maximizing the Use of Available Energy with Low Emissions
Flue gas condensation recovers up to 1.2 MW—or up to 34 percent—of additional heat from the flue gases. This significantly increases the plant’s overall efficiency while simultaneously reducing fuel consumption.
Two electrostatic separators reduce dust emissions to less than 10 mg/Nm³ and ensure exceptionally low-emission operation.
Intelligent combustion technology from Schmid Mawera
With Revolution adaptive, the combustion boxes feature an intelligent combustion control system that detects varying fuel qualities and moisture levels and automatically adjusts the combustion process. This ensures consistently optimized and low-maintenance plant operation.
An energy storage system and a peak-load/emergency boiler complement the overall system and ensure a stable, demand-driven heat supply.
Regional, sustainable, and forward-looking
The wood combustion systems are fueled with wood chips from the regional Angenstein forest district. The short transport distances further improve the carbon footprint while simultaneously strengthening regional economic value creation.
With a planned heat output of approximately 16 GWh per year, the heating network achieves a renewable energy share of at least 80 percent.
In addition, the heating plant serves as the foundation for a smart city pilot project by Primeo Energie. In the future, heat, electricity, and energy storage will be intelligently interconnected to utilize renewable energy even more efficiently.
It took just four years from the feasibility study to the first heat delivered. To me, this is impressive proof of how innovative planning, collaborative partnerships, and state-of-the-art energy technology can turn sustainable energy solutions into reality in a short period of time. That makes me proud.
Energy Pioneers
The Aesch Heating Plant exemplifies what the Schmid Mawera Group stands for: smart heating plants—multimodal and highly efficient. Through the seamless integration of wood energy, heat pumps, heat recovery, and smart control systems, solutions are created that maximize the use of renewable resources, minimize emissions, and ensure a sustainable heat supply for future generations.
Quick Facts
Plant type:
Compression heat pump – 1 MW
Combustion box 1: UTSR-1200 moving grate boiler / DENOX combustion chamber
Combustion box 2: UTSR-2400 moving grate boiler / DENOX combustion chamber
Flue gas dedusting:
multi-cyclone
Electrostatic separator 1: D02-1B (SAVE ENERGY)
Electrostatic separator 2: D051B (SAVE ENERGY)
Efficiency-enhancing components:
Heat recovery: 1 exhaust gas condenser, 1,200 kW (SAVE ENERGY)
Intelligent combustion control: Revolution adaptive
Energy storage
Peak-load boiler: Oil-fired boiler
Nominal capacity | Application:
1 MW – Compression heat pump | District heating – Summer and winter operation
3.6 MW – Wood combustion system | District heating, winter operation
<10 mg/Nm³ – Dust content after electrostatic separator
1.2 MW – flue gas condensation (up to 34% additional heat from flue gas)
Total up to 5.8 MW (excluding peak-load boiler)
Fuel:
Forest woodchips (P63)
Silo:
Drop chute, silo lid drive-over Gross volume: 670 m³
Silo discharge system / transport system:
Moving floor, trough chain conveyor, screw conveyor system
Furnace ash removal:
Grate ash removal, ash hopper 10 m³
Commissioning:
October 2025
Building contractor:
Primeo Energie
Plant site:
Weidenring, 4147 Aesch BL
Project planning:
Primeo Energie, Münchenstein
Industry: Heating network, contractor, district heating
Special features:
Limited space – maximum utilization
Integration of a heat pump with the exhaust gas condenser, with the compression heat pump switching from winter mode (via flue gas condensation) to summer mode (via outside air) to cover the required summer load/heat production.