Pioneering project for energy efficiency and decarbonization: Water-to-water heat pump in operation at voestalpine Wire Austria

The system, which has been in operation since January 2025, uses “surplus” waste heat from the cooling circuit (temperature range 15-40 °C) and converts it into usable heating energy (up to 75 °C) using a heat pump. The thermal energy obtained in this way is used to heat buildings and preheat process water.

With a heat output of up to 130 kW, the system provides around 450 MWh of heat energy per year. Under optimum operating conditions, the system achieves an impressive COP factor (coefficient of performance) of up to 7.5. Under standard conditions, a COP factor of approx. 5.0 is achieved.

A significant advantage of this system is the drastic reduction in groundwater consumption: as the cooling water is used to extract heat, it is no longer necessary to add cold groundwater for cooling. This saves around 40,000 m³ of water per year. At the same time, the amount of natural gas required to heat the site is significantly reduced, which is good for the environment and reduces operating costs.

The plant is equipped with comprehensive measurement technology to identify and analyze operating behavior and potential interactions with production. This data will be used to further develop the concept and identify potential follow-up projects at the site, including an expansion to high-temperature applications and the integration of larger systems.  The knowledge gained can also potentially be transferred to other voestalpine sites with cooling water systems.

The heat pump project is an impressive example of how technological innovation and climate-friendly energy supply can go hand in hand. It shows that even small pilot projects can have a big impact - both ecologically and economically. By expanding such solutions, voestalpine Wire Austria is actively driving forward the sustainable transformation of the industry and taking an important step towards CO₂-neutral wire production.