HOFOR operates Denmark’s largest district heating network, with a total length of about three thousand kilometers. The company intends to reduce the average supply temperature to 65 °C. In recent years, winter temperatures have already been reduced from 90 °C to below 80 °C, and the final goal is to reach an annual average of 65 °C for all customers.
Until 2021, part of the network still operated on steam, but HOFOR completed a large-scale transition to hot-water district heating. In Copenhagen’s historic city center, relatively new pipelines have now been installed, which will make the upcoming temperature reduction easier. The project covers:
- 35,000 heat meters
- 670,000 residents
- transition completion plan — by 2033
This will require not only infrastructure upgrades, but also:
- 🤝 dialogue with customers
- new tariffs
- technical solutions
Lowering temperatures is closely linked to the electrification of heat supply program. By 2035, HOFOR plans to commission up to 850 MW of new capacity, mainly through:
- heat pumps
- electric boilers
- increasing thermal storage capacity
The network is divided into 15 local sections with different parameters, so temperatures will be reduced gradually — one section at a time.
In the Amager area, the company conducted trials showing that:
- ✅ about 70% of customers are already ready to operate with lower temperatures
- 🔧 25% will need system adjustments
- 🛠️ 5% will need certain components replaced or the entire system
The municipal fund Varmekælderpuljen provides grants for inspections and modernization of heat substations, helping owners carry out the necessary work in line with the city’s climate targets.