This district heating network with thermal storage responds to peak consumption, limits fossil fuel consumption, and maximises use of renewable energies for a town of 64,000 people.
Heating needs from a town of 64,000 people fluctuate on a daily and seasonal basis. Supplying power for the coldest day in winter when everyone is watching the football usually requires having heating plants on standby for 90% of the year.
The town of Borås, Sweden, have come up with a smart way of storing and deploying heat flexibly, utilising the power of water to store heat. Energi och miljö, the public company that owns the district heating network, has deployed a gigantic, 37,000 m3 reservoir to store excess thermal energy – often from renewable sources – produced during periods of low usage. When heat demand peaks, the hot water is then returned to the district heating network.
“There are two things: Sweden has cold winters, and demand fluctuates during the day. But we can count on a buffer tank, it’s like a giant 37,000 m3 thermos.”
Stefan-Olof Fransson – Regional Manager, Veolia
Why you should care
Many areas of the world have backup generators, unused for most of the year, so that during times of peak demand, there is sufficient hear. Finding innovative solutions like this will help to reduce our dependency of fossil fuels for heating and cooling.
How the Global Goals are addressed
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Bodies of water have great thermal storage capacity. Utilising this to store and then distribute heat can make cities far more sustainable.
Climate Action
This solution reduces fossil fuel dependency and slashes greenhouse gas emissions by about 5,500 metric tons annually.
Veolia
Veolia helps cities and industries to manage, optimize and make the most of their resources. The company provides an array of solutions related to water, energy and materials – with a focus on waste recovery – to promote the transition toward a circular economy.
Global Goals addressed