PRESS RELEASE | July 14, 2023 |
The North Jutland specialist in renewable energy, Aalborg CSP, and Brønderslev Forsyning have entered into a collaboration and contract for yet another green energy project. This time, it involves an integrated 1 MW air-to-water heat pump that will recover heat from Brønderslev Forsyning’s existing biomass boilers as well as from the outdoor air, thereby contributing to further efficiency in Brønderslev Forsyning’s energy production.
The synergy between heat pumps, solar, and biomass increases efficiency.
The order for Brønderslev Forsyning includes a turnkey project consisting of a 1 MW air-to-water heat pump with associated piping and heat exchangers, as well as integration with the district heating plant’s existing system, which includes a 26,929 m2 solar heating system and two biomass boilers. The new heat pump system is specifically tailored to Brønderslev Forsyning’s current setup, focusing on efficient and cost-effective heat production by utilizing existing surplus energy.
The heat pump is designed to recover energy from the waste heat generated by the district heating plant’s existing biomass boilers or from the outdoor air. Thorkil Neergaard, Director of Brønderslev Forsyning, stated: “We place great emphasis on integrating various renewable energy technologies and thus benefiting from both solar, biomass, and heat pumps, as well as the synergies between them intelligently. The new heat pump enables us to recover energy in two ways.”
When the biomass boilers are running, waste heat is generated in the boiler hall. This waste heat is recovered by an air cooler. Subsequently, the energy from the waste heat is converted into the electric heat pump, compressing it into usable district heating energy at the desired flow temperature. When the temperature in the boiler room is appropriate, the heat pump’s energy is extracted from the outdoor air using energy collectors located next to the system.
This particular integration allows Brønderslev Forsyning to switch between energy sources and thus adapt the operation of their plant according to the existing conditions, such as weather, electricity prices, etc.
Forward-thinking ensures a stable heat price.
At Brønderslev Forsyning, forward-thinking has contributed to keeping the district heating plant’s prices low in a challenging market. The market has been marked by the war in Ukraine and rising energy prices over the past year and a half, where supply security and energy independence have been top priorities.
Aalborg CSP and Brønderslev Forsyning repeat success. The new heat pump system is not the first project that Aalborg CSP and Brønderslev Forsyning have collaborated on in the transition to greener and more sustainable heat production for the district heating plant. In 2017, Aalborg CSP delivered a 16.6 MW solar heating system comprising 26,929 m2 parabolic troughs in Brønderslev. The plant in Brønderslev was the world’s first combined heat and power plant that combines concentrated solar power (CSP) with a biomass boiler, which, together and via an advanced organic Rankine cycle (ORC), converts the energy into electricity and district heating.
The innovative technology has contributed to ensuring high efficiency, lower energy prices, and a long-term secure and clean energy solution for Brønderslev Forsyning, where they no longer depend on fluctuating prices of traditional fuels.
“We are proud that Brønderslev Forsyning has chosen to collaborate with us again to establish green solutions. They are forward-thinking in their approach to developing energy systems, and we are pleased that the long-term value creation in Aalborg CSP’s solutions and integration could secure the order,” said Svante Bundgaard, CEO of Aalborg CSP.
Facts
Customer: Brønderslev Forsyning
Heat pump capacity: 1 MW
System provider: Aalborg CSP A/S
Scope of supply: Complete turnkey project for heat pump and energy recovery, including integration with the existing system
Location: Brønderslev