In Hamburg the Aquathermal projects WaterWarmth and AquaCOM explained the opportunities and limitations of aquathermal energy.
🔹 The Technical and Economic Potential – Dr. Anja Behrendt (Hamburgisches Welt WirtschaftsInstitut (HWWI) | EU-Project WaterWarmth)
🔹 Opportunities, Barriers, Regulations – Lea Blasey (Oldenburg University | EU-Project AquaCOM)
Nearly 30 participants joined the joint WaterWarmth and AquaCOM event in Hamburg, part of the Körber-Stiftung “water” initiative, to explore how aquathermal energy can contribute to a sustainable heating future.
The speakers highlighted how heat pumps can extract thermal energy from rivers and lakes and transform it into an efficient, eco-friendly heat source. The presentations covered technological and economic potential, regulatory frameworks, and governance structures. Both EU projects provided insights into their work, with the WaterWarmth pilot cases offering a clear picture of how the heat source and the buildings to be heated come together in practice.
Footnote: Anja is in the WaterWarmth project investigating how profitable aquathermal energy is. Investigating the important aspects that influence energy security and independence. Assessing the opportunities aquathermal energy presents in the current energy market, including from an economic perspective. Aquathermal energy , as an alternative fo fossil fuels, must contribute to a sustainable and equitable energy system for the future. Once we have clarity on this, we can assist policymakers in planning and decisionmaking.
