Objectives

LIFE4HeatRecovery pursues four main objectives.

OBJECTIVE 1. TO DEMONSTRATE OPPORTUNITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF WASTE HEAT RECOVERY FROM MULTIPLE URBAN SOURCES

New generation DH networks operated at very low temperatures can directly recover heat rejected by chillers (at around 30 to 40°C, e.g. from air-conditioners, supermarkets’ refrigeration and industrial processes), using ejected heat to cover heating needs in other buildings.

However, a large number of high temperature 3rd generation DH networks exist, which normally can recover thermal energy only from high temperature industrial processes. In these cases, high temperature water-to-water heat pumps are needed to rise the temperature of the heat rejected to the network’s levels.

OBJECTIVE 2: TO DEMONSTRATE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR DH NETWORKS

suitable to: 

  • prioritise the harvesting of waste energy sources compared to fossil fuels utilisation
  • interact with the electricity grid to negotiate the best prices from utility and customers perspectives for the electricity used by the heat pumps

OBJECTIVE 3. TO DEMOSTRATE TRADING SCHEMES

allowing to manage thermal energy fed/purchased by/from different customers. The schemes are BUSINESS MODELS elaborated by the utility companies involved in the project.

With LIFE4HeatRecovery, customers assume both the role of energy consumers and producers. Trading schemes will be elaborated having the energy users as a focal point, trying to gather social acceptance and triggering the wide adoption of the solutions.

OBJECTIVE 4. TO DEVELOP FINANCIAL SCHEMES ENABLING LARGE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENTS TO BE MOBILIZED

LIFE4HeatRecovery activities will also be focused on the development of innovative financing mechanisms based on public-private collaboration, contributing to the uptake and large-scale replication of reliable business cases.

Dry coolers wasting heat into environment from a factory