Baar scraps town-wide heating plan, shifts to targeted local projects

Baar's plans for a town-wide heating and cooling network have been abandoned due to high costs and low energy density. Instead, the local government is now focusing on smaller, targeted projects in areas with realistic potential. Two specific zones—Unterfeld and Baarermatt—have been identified for further study.

The municipality and energy provider WWZ initially explored a full district heating system for Baar. However, the low energy density across the town made long pipelines too expensive. High investment costs and limited local renewable energy sources also ruled out a town-wide solution.

Many larger properties in Baar already use their own heating systems, such as groundwater and heat pumps. While exact numbers remain unclear, this reduces the demand for a centralised network. As a result, officials are shifting to a more pragmatic approach.

The next steps involve detailed assessments and pilot projects in Unterfeld and Baarermatt. Smaller, well-defined networks using deep groundwater could prove economically viable. The goal is to create sustainable, long-term heating and cooling solutions for these specific areas.

Baar's revised strategy avoids the financial risks of a full district heating network. By targeting smaller zones, the municipality aims to develop cost-effective and sustainable alternatives. Further studies will determine whether the selected areas can support viable heating and cooling projects.