Construction Begins on Europe's Largest River-Water Heat Pump in Cologne

The €280 million project aims to provide sustainable heating for up to 50,000 households by 2027, with plans to fully decarbonize its energy source.

The heat pump will extract thermal energy from the Rhine River and supply it to Cologne's district heating network, reaching temperatures of up to 110 degrees Celsius.
The facility will have a maximum heating capacity of 150 megawatts and is expected to begin operations in 2027.
Approximately €100 million of the €280 million investment comes from federal and EU funding to support the project.
Initially, the pump will use partly renewable electricity, with a goal to transition to fully decarbonized energy in the future.
Developers believe the project sets a precedent for sustainable heating solutions in Germany and Europe, combining innovation with economic efficiency.