Stockholm Exergi invests in pipe connections while DC operators invest in heat pumps, converting a cooling cost into a revenue stream of SEK 2M/MW/year. The platform now connects 30+ DCs across 16 providers.
Project overview
Lead: Stockholm Exergi
Country: Sweden
Sector: DC + District Heating (Heat recovery and heat pump)
Stage: Post-FID / operational
Financing: Mixed (Utility investment and heat purchase agreements)
Success factors & impact
Four key enablers make the Stockholm Exergi model viable at scale:
01. Price visibility
- Temperature-indexed ODH contracts transform waste heat into a standardised, tradable commodity with predictable pricing
- SEK 2M/MW/year revenue signal makes heat reuse commercially attractive for DC operators
02. Infrastructure readiness
- The utility funds pipe connections while DC operators fund heat pumps, splitting investment and coordinating infrastructure across parties to lower individual risk
03. Flexible systems & economics
- Open platform aggregates 30+ DCs under one framework, enabling cluster-level heat supply supported by long-term offtake agreements
- City partnership gives institutional backing, and accelerates permitting and connection
04. Risk sharing & capital models
- EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) creates regulatory tailwind by mandating waste heat recovery assessments for large DC operators
- Requires city-level infrastructure, like the existing district heating networks in Nordic cities
System-level value
- Reduces city-level fossil heat demand, cutting Stockholm’s carbon footprint and reinforcement needs
- Optimises cooling infrastructure for DC operators by converting a cost centre into a revenue stream via risk sharing
- Provides a replicable model, particularly in Nordic countries which are already leaders in DC–district heating integration
Key metrics
- 30,000+ apartments heated annually
- ~€170K/MW/year paid to DC operators
- 3.5% of Stockholm heat supply; target 10%
Source: Stockholm Exergi