The project

Place: Zurich
Customer: Disposal + recycling Zurich (ERZ)
Phases: Planning (planning application)
Period: 2015-2017
Building costs: CHF 235 million

The waste incineration power plant (WIPP) in Josefstrasse supplies the Zurich-West district heating system. A connection line from the Hagenholz waste incineration power plant to the Josefstrasse power plant must be planned to maintain the supply of the existing network with non-fossil heat energy once the operating permit for the waste incineration power plant has expired. This project includes the development of the district heating system along the route. The “Josefstrasse Energy Centre” project element (EZJO) requires an environmental impact assessment. The environmental impact report further required a detailed description of the sub-projects “Hagenholz chamber connecting structure” and “Connecting line between the Hagenholz waste incineration power plant and the EZJO” as well as a summary of the “Decommissioning and dismantling of the Josefstrasse waste incineration power plant”.

Our services

• Performance of an environmental impact assessment and compilation of an environmental impact report (main investigation)

• Special consideration and presentation of the environmental improvements by the project (massive reduction of air emission and noise, discontinuation of waste transport, site clean-up, etc.)

Challenges

• System boundaries: Complex functional and spatial delimitation of the project elements of the Zurich municipality district heating system that require environmental impact assessment from the project elements that do not require environmental impact assessment
• Complex air-hygiene modelling to prove adherence to the limit values for additional, short-term NOx immissions
  Proof of adherence to the water protection laws during various construction activities below the groundwater level