A new long-term contract between operator EEW and Stadtwerke Pirmasens ensures reliable district heating and boosts plant efficiency.
Key Takeaways
- EEW and Stadtwerke Pirmasens signed a long-term contract for reliable district heating, enhancing plant efficiency.
- The agreement ensures continuous use of waste heat, increasing the overall efficiency of the Pirmasens plant by up to 25 per cent.
- District heating from the waste-to-energy plant is recognised as ‘green heat’ under German law, aiding sustainable supply.
- This contract supports the expansion of the district heating network and aligns with future renewable energy goals.
Energy supplier Stadtwerke Pirmasens (SWPS) and plant operator EEW have signed a long-term heat supply contract, securing the district heating supply for current and future customers in Pirmasens. The agreement, concluded on 19 December 2025, represents a central milestone for the city’s heat supply and the further development of the waste-to-energy plant (MHKW) operated by EEW.
The contract provides planning security and supports the city’s municipal heat planning strategy.
Increased Efficiency and CO₂ Reduction
For EEW, the agreement leads to a substantial gain in efficiency. The guaranteed offtake of heat generated at the Pirmasens plant allows for the continuous use of waste heat, significantly increasing the plant’s overall efficiency. A recent turbine renewal had already increased the site’s energy efficiency by up to 25 percent, EEW announced.
The plant’s annual electricity generation now exceeds 110,000 megawatt-hours, which corresponds to the needs of more than 30,000 households. This improved efficiency also results in a reduction of around 10,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year. The process prioritises heat utilisation; only when the demand from district heating customers is met is the remaining energy used for electricity generation.
A Foundation for Green Municipal Heating
Michael Höling, technical managing director of the MHKW Pirmasens, stated: “The long-term heat supply contract with the municipal utility company is an important step for us. The reliable offtake of heat makes it possible to use the waste heat from the waste-to-energy plant even more efficiently and to further improve the overall efficiency of the plant. This strengthens the Pirmasens site, creates planning security for investments and shows how waste recovery and municipal heat supply can interact meaningfully.”
The contract is also a central component for the future orientation of the heat supply for Stadtwerke Pirmasens. According to Christoph Dörr, managing director of Stadtwerke Pirmasens, the partnership builds on a history of reliable cooperation. He noted that negotiations were complicated by a lack of clear legal guidelines for recognising district heating as “green” heat, an issue he attributes to political inaction. He thanked EEW for its flexibility, which enabled an agreement that provides a reliable foundation for both parties while leaving room for future legal changes.
District heating from the waste-to-energy plant is classified as “green heat” under the German Heat Planning Act (WPG), meaning customers automatically meet the legal requirements for a sustainable heat supply.
Future Outlook for Pirmasens’ Heat Supply
The contract opens up additional perspectives for municipal heat planning, as an expansion and densification of the district heating network can be secured by additional heat quantities from the MHKW. A further increase in heat extraction from the plant is technically feasible.
By 2045, the heat supply must be based entirely on renewable sources. This agreement creates the basis for achieving this goal step by step. In the future, green gas, hydrogen, large-scale heat pumps or other waste heat sources can be integrated into the system.
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