SMART THERMAL GRID

 

Thematic booklet on Smart Thermal Grids

RUGGEDISED partners have implemented a number of smart thermal grid solutions and evaluated the “dos and don’ts” for others’ benefit. This factsheet booklet is one of four in a series that focuses on particular aspects of the smart city approach and how to tackle common challenges faced by cities and communities across Europe.

Find the individual smart solutions below or read the Implementation Reports from the Lighthouses Cities to have the full city overview. Read the smart thermal grids booklet here.


 

 

 

 

 

THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rotterdam - Geothermal heat/cold storage and heat pumps

This solution consists of a thermal grid connecting large buildings in the Heart of South district, as well as new parts of the Rotterdam Ahoy exhibition centre, congress centre, hotel and cinema. Heat-cold exchange within one building is commonly used, but the RUGGEDISED grid will connect all buildings in the Heart of South area and will optimise distribution of heat and cold among buildings.

 

 

Partners: Ballast Nedam, ENECO

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Umeå - Geothermal heat/cold storage

A geothermal heat/cold storage unit connecting and mapping of various buildings (with different energy needs, i.e. energy used at different times of the day for different purposes) will be developed to better distribute energy, given Umeå’s climate where temperatures vary between -30-+30 degrees Celsius. A business model which goes beyond the traditional landowner and energy company cooperation will be developed as part of this.

 

 Partners: Västerbotten County Council, Akademiska Hus AB, Umeå Energi

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EXTRACTING/ COLLECTING THERMAL ENERGY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rotterdam - Thermal energy from waste water

Thermal energy from waste water will be extracted and connected to the geothermal grid for heating and cooling in the Heart of South project area (see R1). On a building level thermal energy from waste water of  the district's swimming pool showers will be used to directly heat tap water, while on a district level thermal energy from household sewage water will be fed into the geothermal smart grid.

 

Partners: Ballast Nedam, ENECO, Rotterdam City Council

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Rotterdam - Surface water heat/cold collection   

Water in the area around the Ahoy complex and Hoornbeeck College will be used to extract heat/cold from the surface water to feed into the geothermal network (see R1) depending on the demand in the buildings connected to the network.

 Partners: Ballast Nedam, ENECO, Rotterdam City Council

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Rotterdam - Pavement heat/cold collector   

A heat exchanger installed under the pavement/road in the Heart of South district will be used to extract heat/cold from the surface and stored in the heat-cold storage system, so that bus lanes and pedestrian walkways can be kept frost-free in winter, and cool in the summer thus extending the paving lifetime.

 Partners: Ballast Nedam, ENECO, Rotterdam City Council

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THERMAL EXCHANGE & CONNECTED BUILDINGS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Umeå - Peak load variation management

The solution is based on an automated peak load management system that is developed and tested on campus at Umeå University. By using buildings as thermal energy storage hubs, the stored energy can be used at peak periods when the need for energy is at its highest. Through this approach, it becomes possible to even out peak loads and reduce the use of fossil fuels, in order to secure a consistent heat supply throughout the city.

  Partners: Västerbotten County Council, Akademiska Hus AB, Umeå Energi

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Glasgow - Heat exchange/connection of buildings to district heating network

A business model will be developed to enable public sector buildings in Glasgow to sell excess-heat from/to one another and for private industry to sell heat to local customers, which in this case includes local housing, either directly or via an intermediary.

  Partners: Glasgow City Council, Tennents Caledonian Brewery, Wheatley Group, University of Strathclyde

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100% RENEWABLE ENERGY BUSINESS MODEL

 

 

 

Umeå - Smart City connection to 100% renewable energy

A business model to optimise renewable energy -production and -use through cooperation between Umeå’s city entities and continuous evaluation, particularly in relation to peak load analysis at the building and district level, will be developed. This business model applied at this district level will, if successful, be applied city-wide to make Umeå carbon neutral by 2018.

  Partners: Västerbotten County Council, Akademiska Hus AB, Umeå Energi

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