Xylem energy drive

Xylem supports energy drive with district heating networks

As Ireland seeks to end dependence on fossil fuels, the latest digital tools can help speed the process, writes Kevin Devine, Sales Director, Xylem Water Solutions Ireland.

The opportunity exists to create a new heating market for Ireland using indigenous low-carbon and renewable sources of heat right under our feet, according to the Irish District Energy Association. As the energy crisis prompts calls to accelerate the provision of more sustainable sources, “the use of geothermal in the national energy mix provides a safe and secure energy source which will be unaffected by external economic or climate factors” 1 .

As well as harnessing underground energy at a local level, work is underway on the country’s first large-scale district heating system, exploiting the excess heat from the Amazon Web Services data centre in Tallaght to benefit local homes and offices. In Dublin, it is estimated there is already enough waste heat to warm one million homes2. Using the extra heat generated by industrial sources provides a sustainable way forward.

But whether redistributing by-product heat or tapping into geothermal sources, there is still a long journey to reach the national target for 10% of all buildings to be connected to district heating sources by 20303. Currently, district heating and cooling represent a maximum 0.8% of Ireland’s heat consumption4 .

Get powered by the right tools The opportunities to boost the efficiency of district heating and cooling distribution networks as they develop are vast. Specialist free-swimming leak detection tools can relay information on the true condition of pipework, for example, while the latest equipment – from in-line pumps and circulators, cold water boosters and pressurisation sets, and heat metering for accurate billing and network monitoring – can help customers get the most out of the heating or cooling water supply as it arrives. A solution in full flow In the United States, a unique Centralised Renewable Energy System (CRES) has been used to transfer heat from a wastewater treatment facility to the neighbouring Nebraska Innovation Campus, cutting cooling energy by a quarter and reducing energy use for heating by 30%5 .

Wastewater effluent is delivered to the heat exchange facility where plate and frame heat exchangers heat and cool the water within the campus’ piping loop. Powerful pumps optimised for variable heat demand then move water through the loop to the nearby buildings for use in the heating and cooling systems. Walking the talk at Xylem For the last 20 years, Xylem has chased improvements in energy efficiency and, in the last decade, heat pumps have had a central role in its success. At Xylem’s Emmaboda facility in Sweden, Xylem has connected all buildings to an internal district heating network paired with heat pumps and a powerful borehole repository to store energy when necessary. This provides heating and cooling to the premises when and where needed, plus cooling for manufacturing processes. In total, it saves 35,000 cubic metres of fresh water per year.

From source to network and then onto the consumer, there are significant savings to be made with the help of smart equipment to solve the issues of moving, heating and cooling water with minimal energy loss. The right tools can power district heating systems that are fit for the future, aiding the transition to secure and sustainable energy for all.

For more information on water technology solutions across the lifecycle of use, visit https://www.xylem.com/ en-ie/

References

1. https://www.districtenergy.ie/images/files/ geothermalconsulationirdea-respsnse-2.pdf 2. https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2021/0913/ 1246571-amazon- data-centre-heat-tallaght/ 3. https://www.rte.ie/news/ dublin/2021/0913/1246571-amazon-data-centreheat-tallaght/ 4. https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/default/files/ documents/ie_final_necp_main_en.pdf 5. https://www.xylem.com/siteassets/support/ case-studies/case-studies-pdf/fcs193_flygt_lincoln_ case_study.pdf

Kevin Devine, Sales Director, Xylem Water Solutions Ireland, who presented a paper at the recent Irish District Heating Association Annual Conference. He is pictured here with Eamon Ryan, TD, Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications & Transport.