17th „Building Services, Mechanical and Building Industry Days” International Conference, 13-14 October 2011, Debrecen, Hungary DISTRICT HEATING AND COOLING FROM RENEWABLE AND WASTE ENERGY IN BARCELONA Christoph PETERS, Architect, Sabaté associates,
[email protected] David SERRANO, Industrial Engineer, Districlima,
[email protected] Àngel ANDREU, Industrial Engineer, Ecoenergies Barcelona,
[email protected] KEYWORDS: district cooling, renewable energy, energy efficiency, urban planning. Abstract: District heating and cooling networks supplying thermal energy to buildings have been developed as part of the revitalisation process that has transformed two huge post-industrial areas into innovation and residential districts in Barcelona. Both networks are technologically innovative. One project recovers waste heat from an urban waste fuelled electricity generation plant for heating and uses sea water cooled absorption machines for cold production. The other uses biomass for heat generation and exploits waste cold produced when depressurizing liquid gas shipped from overseas for natural gas distribution for cold production. On demand side, highly energy efficient buildings are required to achieve a reduction of the carbon footprint of urban areas. One of the first apartment blocks connected to the district energy network serves as a demonstration that this is possible. The experience of these projects is being used to train urban planners in a continuous education programme in order to introduce energy efficiency and renewable energies into urban planning. 1. Introduction In recent times, Spain experienced cumulative annual growth resulting in energy demand almost doubling every decade. This pattern of growth is simply unsustainable. Although the progress of civilizations has so far been measured according to its energy consumption, in the near future it will be based on its ability to rationalize it.