Swiss-Japanese green-tech company Hitachi Zosen Inova AG (HZI) has announced that it has been selected by Entsorgung + Recycling Zurich to build a new line at the Hagenholz Waste-to-Energy facility in Zurich, Switzerland. When operational in 2026, the new, highly efficient line will increase the plant’s existing capacity by 50 percent to treat non-recyclable municipal waste from the city and canton of Zurich, generating heat and power for local homes and businesses.
Entsorgung + Recycling Zurich is the City of Zurich’s waste management division, and a Notice to Proceed was given on September 6, 2023, to Zurich-based HZI, signaling the start of the build phase of the design, build, and commission contract of a new state-of-the-art Waste to Energy (WtE) line at the Hagenholz waste treatment site close to the city’s airport.
A two-line WtE facility has been located at the Hagenholz site since 1969, with the original lines later replaced in 2008 and 2010 respectively. Entsorgung + Recycling Zurich selected HZI to deliver a new third line and the fifth boiler to be built on the same site, which will increase the treatment capacity by 120,000 tonnes of waste each year.
HZI is extremely proud to have been awarded this important contract by Entsorgung + Recycling Zurich. It will enable more residual waste to be treated at the Hagenholz site, which has been processing waste for over 50 years, said Fabio Dinale, EVP of Business Development at HZI.
The new line will generate 48 MW of thermal power and facilitate the extension of Zurich’s existing district heating system, for which the city’s electorate recently approved a loan of CHF330 million (≈ EUR 345.3 million).
Significantly, the energy generated will markedly reduce the need for the oil and gas-powered heating systems currently used by homes and industry in the city, contributing to both a reduction in Zurich’s carbon footprint and enhanced supply security, with less dependence on energy imports.
A Win-Win for Zurich
Once fully commissioned, operations at the Hagenholz line will start in December 2026, producing much-needed electricity and steam for Zurich’s expanding district heating infrastructure.
This is a home win for both parties, with HZI, a leading international green-tech group based in Zurich, helping to further increase the canton’s ability to treat more of its own non-recyclable waste locally.
In addition to creating more construction jobs, the new Hagenholz facility will also be a catalyst in terms of extending the city’s district heating grid. In the future, this will have significant environmental benefits, with low-pressure steam produced by all three Waste to Energy lines at Hagenholz used to heat more homes and businesses, reducing consumption of oil and gas.
Once operational in late 2026, the new and highly efficient line will increase waste thermal treatment and recycling at this Zurich facility by 50 percent, processing an additional 120,000 tonnes of waste per year. Importantly, this will allow Zurich to increase its energy security, with more heat produced locally and more metals recovered in Switzerland from recycling activities, Fabio Dinale said.
The new Hagenholz line represents the third boiler order for HZI in Switzerland in recent years.
