Thermal Energy Recovery from the WRK
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The advisory report
The main outcomes of this research are incorporated in a Dutch written advisory report for the WRK Board. Suggesting an approach to make WRK infrastructure available as a heat- and cold source to support the heat transition of municipalities. This approach provides advice on handling the distribution of energy and choosing a role in the heat and cold provision chain. Stressing the need for collaborative action between the RES, province, municipalities and the WRK.
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DISTRIBUTION OF ENERGY
The WRK is recommended to start by developing a source strategy. Enabling municipalities to make trade-offs with alternative local heat and cold sources. This source strategy serves as an important tool for both the WRK and municipalities. As it also enables the WRK to identify high-potential areas where pilot projects concerning heat and cold utilization could be initiated.
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CHOOSING A ROLE
During the working conference, municipalities also stressed the need for clarity on the preferred position of the WRK within the heat and cold supply chain. ​​Based on this research, it is recommended that the WRK makes its infrastructure available as a heat and cold source by maintaining ownership up to the heat exchanger. This can be done in two ways: 1) the WRK installs and maintains a heat exchanger itself or 2) transports heat/cold to the heat exchanger of a transfer station. By retaining ownership until the heat exchanger, the quality of the water in the WRK transport pipelines can be guaranteed.
By only managing the source, various governance structures are possible after the heat exchanger, which plays into the flexible role of the WRK requested by the municipalities.
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ACTIVE ATTITUDE
An active attitude is advised with regard to knowledge transfer for interested municipalities. Elaborating on the technical potential and investment costs of heat- and cold utilization from the WRK. It is furthermore important to match the pace of the municipalities in the process of drawing up their transition vision's on heat and the execution plans on neighborhood level.
This can be achieved by actively joining this process: offering support in the drawing of these documents.
GIS analyses are also incorporated in the advisory report in order to identify high potential areas for thermal energy recovery within the neighborhoods of municipalities. The potential analysis serves as additional tool for the WRK board to further develop an implementation strategy.
This analysis is based on five criteria:
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1. The neighborhood is located within a 750 meters radius of WRK infrastructure
2. Presence of small energy user clusters within the 750 meters radius
3. The household density within the small energy user clusters
4. Presence of large energy consumers (such as industries and companies)
5. The presence of hampering infrastructure (such as rail roads and highways)
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The map indicates multiple hotspot locations. These locations, based on the used criteria, have an increased potential to result in a financial positive business case.
The darkness indicates the value of the potential. The areas that are darker red have a higher potential than orange or light red.
As a result of this research, a follow-up study will be carried out by the WRK. Further assessing the issues of energy distribution and what role to take in the Dutch heat transition.
The WRK will also organize a second working conference for interested municipalities who were unable to attend the first session.