After around two years of construction and CHF 15 million invested, the AEW heat network in Villmergen provides sustainable heat for local companies, as detailed in a press release. The heat network, which combines renewable heat from regional waste wood and wood from cascade utilisation with modern storage and control technology, strengthens regional supply security as part of the Energy Strategy 2050, according to the press release.
At the centre of the heating centre is an efficient waste wood boiler with an output of 2,000 kilowatts. A further waste wood boiler, heat pumps and a peak load boiler are also planned, which will generate a total output of up to 10,000 kilowatts.
A modern heat storage tank with a volume of 160,000 litres will ensure operational efficiency, while a photovoltaic system with an annual output of 220 megawatt hours (MWh) will produce sustainable electricity. 145 MWh of the electricity produced is used for the plant’s own consumption. Using power-to-heat technology, the system converts surplus electricity into heat and thus adapts to fluctuations in the energy system. This leads to particularly efficient energy utilisation, while at the same time supporting the stability of the power grid, explains AEW.
Once completed, the heating centre will supply up to 14,500 MWh of heat per year and cover the needs of around 700 single-family homes. This will save around 710,000 cubic metres of natural gas and 1,500 tonnes of CO2 per year, explains Daniel Wernli, Head of Heat Production at AEW.
From planning to construction and operation, AEW has deliberately commissioned companies from the region. The local population will also be involved: in spring 2026, AEW will organise an open day at the heating network and explain how sustainable heat is produced from regional wood.
