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EVN Wärme’s energy project in Himberg, Lower Austria, combines renewable heat generation with the flexible use of surplus renewable electricity. The project brings together a 5 MW biomass heating plant, a 1.2 MW Power-to-Heat (P2H) system and a 200 m³ buffer storage tank, creating an integrated system for a more flexible and sustainable heat supply.
Integrated flexible system with P2H, biomass and a storage tank
A key feature of the project is the integration of Power-to-Heat alongside the biomass heating plant. The P2H system converts surplus renewable electricity into sustainable heat, particularly during the summer months. This reduces biomass consumption when renewable electricity is widely available and preserves valuable biomass for the winter months, when heat demand is higher. The buffer storage tank, measuring 22 metres in height, stores the generated heat for later use.
To unlock the full value of this flexibility, the P2H system has been connected to CyberGrid’s flexibility management platform, CyberNoc. Following successful prequalification, the asset will participate in the Austrian balancing markets for negative aFRR and mFRR, with market operations planned to commence in early 2027. As acontrollable electrical load, the P2H system can absorb excess electricity from the grid when required by the transmission system operator, supporting system balancing while simultaneously generating useful heat for the district heating network. The thermal storage tank ensures that heat production can be shifted in time, enabling market participation without compromising heat supply to customers.
The project combines the strengths of biomass, power-to-heat and thermal storage to support a reliable and sustainable heat supply. Once fully operational, the facility will provide renewable heat equivalent to the demand of around 1,800 households and contribute to annual CO₂ savings of approximately 2,500 tonnes.
About EVN Wärme
EVN Wärme GmbH focuses on renewable energy solutions for heat supply and operates around 80 biomass plants together with partners from the agricultural and sawmill industries across Lower Austria and parts of Upper Austria. Around two-thirds of its municipal district heating is generated from biomass. EVN Wärme sources biomass regionally and works exclusively with Austrian partners, supporting regional value creation and a sustainable heat supply. With an annual use of around 3 million bulk cubic metres of wood chips, EVN is Austria’s largest supplier of natural heat from biomass. To further increase the share of renewable energy, EVN is working on additional technologies. In the future, Power-to-Heat systems, solar thermal energy, large-scale heat pumps and deep geothermal energy will further broaden and diversify EVN’s heat supply.
