The option to exchange heat, either way, between the two networks will ensures an efficient district heating supply that saves resources. A smart control concept was developed for this purpose, under the ThermaFLEX research project, which optimises use of all heat generators in the linked network, to achieve maximum environmental benefit. To facilitate heat exchange across the networks a bidirectional transfer station has been constructed with a transfer capacity of 4 MW. This consists primarily of two heat exchangers (each of 2 MW), with the appropriate ancillary plant (pumps, valves, etc.) and measurement technology. The heat transfer station was installed at the end of 2020 and put into operation in March 2021.

The central element is to link up both of the current district heating networks of Nahwärme Tillmitsch and Bioenergie Leibnitzerfeld. Combining the networks enables two-way exchange of heat and ensures efficient district heating supply that saves resources using renewable energy and simultaneously reducing the use of fossil fuels. To fully exploit the environmental and economic potential of inter-network heat exchange, an appropriate sophisticated network Energy Management System (EMS) has been developed. The EMS uses an intelligent control concept that optimises the use of all heat generators in the entire combined district heating network. This achieves better and more climate-neutral heat supply than with separate operation of the heating networks.