Good practice:

District Heating system reconstruction in Brumov-Bylnice

The great part of public buildings, as well as 5 private buildings, were heated by central town heating plant having the heat output of 1 MW from biomass and 6.8 MW from 4 boilers utilizing natural gas. The condition of the boiler house was unsatisfactory and, as a result, the reconstruction inevitable. The proposed options how to resolve this situation were:
- decentralization of the heating system;
- a lease of the boiler house to a private investor;
- reconstruction utilizing combined financing from the municipal budget and EU funds.
Eventually, the option using combined financing from the municipal budget and EU funds was selected. This option ensured long-term reliable services for inhabitants, support to local employment and sustainment of financial sources for energy in the region. Additionally, cooperation in fuel supply and experience exchange in the field of renewable energy source construction with the Slovak partner (the village of Hornie Srnie) was intensified. Furthermore, annual energy costs were reduced by app 120.000 EUR. Energy self-sufficiency and independence of the town Brumov-Bylnice has been strengthened, too.
Other important aspects of the action:
- The reconstruction of the boiler room employed local construction companies.
- Fuel supply is from local sources, fuel transport is provided by local carriers.
- Funds obtained from the sale of heat will remain in the town for the further local sustatinable development.

EU funding = 607.000 EUR
(OP Cross-border cooperation Czech Republic - Slovakia);

Brumov-Bylnice municipality = 273.000 EUR

• 2 new biomass boilers with installed power of 3 MW suppling with heat 13 municipality buildings as well as 20 apartments blocks
• 5.550 MWh of energy shifted from fossil fuels to biomass energy annually
• Annual energy savings = 778 MWh
• Annual CO2 savings = 926 tons
• Annual energy costs savings app. 120.000 EUR
• Dual fuel source will contribute to the reliability and durability of the system
• The implementation supported the international cooperation in low carbon areas development

The central boiler room was in unsatisfactory condition and it was necessary to design and implement an optimal variant from three following
- decentralization of the system,
- lease to a foreign investor,
- reconstruction from municipality budget in combination with EU funds.

Thanks to the chosen and implemented variant, quality services were provided to the population, local employment was supported, municipality budget was stabilised and cooperation with the Slovak partner (Hornie Srnie municipality) was deepened in fuel supply and exchange of experience in renewable energy sources.

An indispensable potential for the transfer of this experience is the saving of annual heating costs, which is estimated at least to 120k EUR, as well as support for energy self-sufficiency and independence of the municipality.

The results of the evaluation of individual variants confirmed the suitability of the reconstruction of the central heat source based on renewable energy sources, specifically wood chips.

The long-term sustainable energy price as well as the system reliability were ensured. The implementation of this project is an important outcome to beacon other regions in terms of benefits for the border area, which faces high unemployment.