Germany – General construction work for pipelines – Rohrbau- und Tiefbauarbeiten zur Sanierung der Fernwärmeschiene Rheinvorland

The Fernwärmeverbund Niederrhein Duisburg/Dinslaken GmbH & Co. KG (FVN) operates a approximately 40 km long district heating network supplying the cities of Moers, Duisburg, Dinslaken and Voerde. Due to repeated damage incidents in 2024, a renovation of a approximately 2.9 km long pipeline section in the Rhine floodplain between the transfer station Beeckerwerth and the Rhine culvert is necessary to ensure long-term supply security. As part of the measure, the existing steel jacketed pipe system will be converted to a plastic jacketed pipe system. The renovation is to be carried out in DN 500/800 KMR and will largely run parallel to the existing route. Technically, it is planned to use the higher temperature-resistant PIR insulation foam for the flow line and PUR insulation foam for the return line. The construction site is located in a landscape conservation and floodplain area, resulting in extensive requirements for nature, species, soil and water protection. These will be ensured by an ecological and soil protection construction supervision. For the construction site logistics, a temporary construction road will be created in an environmentally friendly manner, which will be completely dismantled after the completion of the work. Due to the location in the floodplain, special structural and organisational measures are required. These include, among other things, possible water retention measures as well as the creation of a flood protection concept including an alarm plan in coordination with the responsible authority. Permanent storage areas in the Rhine floodplain are not permitted, so only temporary logistics areas can be used. A particular focus of the construction measure is the crossing of the dike structure in the Beeckerwerth area. Here, increased requirements apply, as the stability and function of the dike must be guaranteed at all times. The construction work is scheduled to begin in December 2026, with only preparatory measures such as clearances and the construction of the construction road being possible initially. The actual pipeline construction will start in spring 2027. The goal is completion and commissioning by the start of the heating period at the latest by 30.09.2027. The final schedule will be determined in consultation with the contractor and authorities.