Integrating Mobile Thermal Energy Storage (M-TES) in the City of Surrey’s District Energy Network: A Techno-Economic Analysis

Maha Shehadeh,Jason Owen,Majid Bahrami,Emily Kwok

doi:10.3390/app11031279

Maha Shehadeh, Jason Owen + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/app11031279

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Abstract

The City of Surrey in British Columbia, Canada has recently launched a district energy network (DEN) to supply residential and commercial buildings in the Surrey Centre area with hot water for space and domestic hot water heating. The network runs on natural gas boilers and geothermal exchange. However, the City plans to transition to low-carbon energy sources and envisions the DEN as a key development in reaching its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction targets in the building sector. Harvesting and utilizing waste heat from industrial sites using a mobile thermal energy storage (M-TES) is one of the attractive alternative energy sources that Surrey is considering. In this study, a techno-economic analysis (TEA) was conducted to determine the energy storage density (ESD) of the proposed M-TES technology, costs, and the emission reduction potential of integrating waste heat into Surrey’s DEN. Three transportation methods were considered to determine the most cost-effective and low-carbon option(s) to transfer heat from industrial waste heat locations at various distances (15 km, 30 km, 45 km) to district energy networks, including: (i) a diesel truck; (ii) a renewable natural gas-powered (RNG) truck, and (iii) an electric truck. To evaluate the effectiveness of M-TES, the cost of emission reduction ($/tCO2e avoided) is compared with business as usual (BAU), which is using a natural gas boiler only. Another comparison was made with other low carbon energy sources that the city is considering, such as RNG/biomass boiler, sewer heat recovery, electric boiler, and solar thermal. The minimum system-level ESD required to makes M-TES competitive when compared to other low carbon energy sources was 0.4 MJ/kg.

Highlights

Introduction published maps and institutional affilBuildings consume more than 40% of the total primary energy in developed countries, with approximately 70% of the buildings’ energy demand being for space heating and domestic hot water [1]
The network currently runs on natural gas boilers and geothermal exchange with highly insulated pipes to move hot water to various buildings, and exchanges energy using heat exchangers located at the customer side
The price of industrial waste heat (IWH) delivered by mobile thermal energy storage (M-thermal energy storage (TES)) and the corresponding avoided emissions were compared to the business as usual (BAU) scenario with the existing natural gas boilers, as well as other low-carbon energy sources to determine the comparative advantage and potential of M-TES

Summary

Introduction

Buildings consume more than 40% of the total primary energy in developed countries, with approximately 70% of the buildings’ energy demand being for space heating and domestic hot water [1]. The City of Surrey, in British Columbia, is one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada and has recently launched a district energy network (DEN) to supply hot water for more than 250,800 m2 [4] of various residential and commercial buildings in the Surrey Centre area for space and domestic hot water heating. The network currently runs on natural gas boilers and geothermal exchange with highly insulated pipes to move hot water to various buildings, and exchanges energy using heat exchangers located at the customer side.

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