Eneco, in collaboration with the water authority HDSR(Hoogheemraadschap De Stichtse Rijnlanden), has inaugurated the largest heat pump in the city of Utrech, the Netherlands. This project harnesses waste heat from treated wastewater to provide sustainable heating for approximately 20,000 households in the municipalities of Utrech and Nieuwegein.
The heat pump and wastewater reuse
The device has been installed at the Utrecht wastewater treatment plant, and aims to“reuse the waste heat from 65 million liters of treated water” every day. The wastewater, with temperatures ranging from 12 to 22 degrees Celsius depending on the season, comes from daily activities such as showers, dishwashers and washing machines.
[post_relacionado]Our collaboration with HDSR, we can use heat in a circular process. People use the heat in their homes and then we reuse it to supply homes with new heating and hot water. This is a great way to make our heating more sustainable and accelerate the pace of the energy transition.
Karen de Lathouder, Eneco’s chief operating officer.
On the other hand, the heat exchangerThis temperature is raised to 75 degrees and applied to the wastewater, which is then redistributed through the heating network of the region, allowing a constant supply of sustainable heat.
The initiative is part of the climate objectives of both entities, with the aim of achieving climate neutrality in the coming years. In addition, it is estimated that the heat pump will reduce up to 30,000 tons of CO₂ emissions per year.
The introduction of the heat plant. Source: Eneco
Nanda van Zoelen of HDSR comments, “Our wastewater treatment facilities treat the wastewater produced by our residents and businesses, a process that continues day and night. We are excited that the heat from that treated wastewater now has a useful purpose and serves to heat around 20,000 homes.”
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Source and photo: Eneco