The increase in fossil fuel prices has contributed to an acceleration of the green energy transition. In recent years, an increasing number of Danish district heating plants have turned their attention towards alternative solutions such as heat pumps. One of these district heating plants is Solrød Fjernvarme (Solrød District Heating).
The Danish district heating plant Solrød Fjernvarme is experiencing an increased demand following an expansion of the district heating network. The district heating plant's newly commissioned heat pump helps to ensure sufficient heating capacity to supply both current and future district heating customers.
After a successful performance test phase, which met all requirements and achieved a higher COP (Coefficient of Performance) than promised, the heat pump system has been handed over to the client, Solrød Fjernvarme, who will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the plant.
The order for Solrød Fjernvarme is a turnkey EPC contract consisting of a 1.2 MW CO2 heat pump, expansion of the existing technical building, and integration with the existing system, which includes a 2,569 m2 solar heating plant and a 1,250 m³ hot water accumulation tank.
The integrated heat pump system, which is tailored to fit the district heating plant's specific energy needs, uses outdoor air as the source for heat production and ensures a more flexible energy supply.
Besides a sustainable heating solution, the client has similarly selected a sustainable and environmentally friendly natural refrigerant for their heat pump. The new heat pump system for Solrød Fjernvarme uses CO2 as a refrigerant.
Some of the synthetic refrigerants used currently, such as HFCs and HFOs, are very problematic for the environment in that, over time, parts of these gases are converted into PFAS, which are potentially harmful to humans and wildlife. They also exacerbate global warming.
The district heating sector plays an important part in the Danish commitment to a 70 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. In Denmark, 66 percent of all households are connected to district heating networks and the sector is aiming at being 100 percent fossil-fuel free by 2030. Most district heating plants are already well on their way to becoming fossil-fuel free, combining multiple renewable solutions, such as solar thermal, heat pumps, and thermal heat storage.
The recently commissioned and delivered heat pump system in Solrød, Denmark, is not the first project that Aalborg CSP and Solrød Fjernvarme have collaborated on. In 2016, Aalborg CSP delivered a 1.9 MW solar heating system consisting of a 2,569 m² flat panel solar field combined with a 1,250 m3 heat storage accumulation tank to the district heating plant.
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