In Hamburg, a pioneering initiative is capturing waste heat from copper production and using it to supply clean energy to the city’s district heating network. By reusing heat that would otherwise be lost, the project contributes to climate-neutral heating while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

The heat is generated at the Aurubis copper smelter, located just a few kilometres from Hamburg’s city centre. During the refining process, sulphur contained in copper concentrates reacts with oxygen to produce sulphuric acid, releasing significant amounts of heat. This thermal energy is now captured, transferred to water and delivered through the district heating system serving Hafencity East, a former port area undergoing major urban redevelopment.

To make this possible, Aurubis adapted its production facilities with new heat exchangers, pumps and specialised materials capable of handling high temperatures and corrosive conditions. Enercity Contracting built a dedicated energy station to store and pump the hot water, as well as a backup gas-fired boiler to ensure continuity of supply during periods when copper production is halted. A 3.7-kilometre pipeline now connects the industrial site directly to the city.

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