The new heat pump will extract excess heat from approximately 65 million liters of treated wastewater to provide heating for about 20,000 households.
Energy provider Eneco and the water management agency HDSR in the Netherlands have begun operating the largest heat pump in the country, as reported by Interesting Engineering on September 11. Eneco will utilize the pump to extract heat from the treated wastewater of HDSR and convert it into a new energy source for the heating system.
Eneco and HDSR’s heat pump utilizes heat from treated wastewater. (Photo: Eneco).
The heat pump is installed at the Utrecht wastewater treatment plant. According to Eneco, around 20,000 households in the cities of Utrecht and Nieuwegein will benefit from this sustainable heating source.
“The wastewater treatment system processes waste from residents and businesses around the clock. We are excited that the heat in treated wastewater will now be useful, heating about 20,000 households. This new application significantly reduces the consumption of fossil fuels,” said Nanda van Zoelen, director at HDSR.
Each day, the heat pump will extract excess heat from approximately 65 million liters of treated wastewater. According to Eneco, this water comes from showers, kitchen taps, dishwashers, and washing machines, with temperatures ranging from 12 degrees Celsius in winter to over 22 degrees Celsius in summer.
Thanks to the new heat pump, this heat will not go to waste but will be reused for the heating system. A heat exchanger will extract heat from the wastewater, after which the heat pump raises the temperature to 75 degrees Celsius and delivers the water into the heating system. The system also includes a thermal storage unit approximately 18 meters high and 18 meters wide to ensure there is always enough heat available.
The new heat pump is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 30,000 tons annually. “People use heat in their homes, and then we reuse this heat to provide warmth and hot water for households. This is a wonderful way to make our heat more sustainable and accelerate the energy transition,” stated Karen de Lathouder, director at Eneco.
