Low‐grade heat recycling for system synergies between waste heat and food production, a case study at the European Spallation Source

Thomas Parker,Anders Kiessling

doi:10.1002/ese3.113

Thomas Parker, Anders Kiessling

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.113

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Abstract

AbstractAt present food production depends almost exclusively on direct use of stored energy sources, may perhaps they be nuclear‐, petroleum‐, or biobased. Arable land, artificial fertilizers, and fresh water resources are the base for our present food systems, but are limited. At the same time, energy resources in the form of waste heat are available in ample quantities. The European Spallation Source (ESS) will require approximately 270 GWh of power per year to operate, power that ultimately is converted to heat. This multidisciplinary case study details an alternative food production cooling chain, using low‐grade surplus heat, and involving fermentation, aquaculture, nutrient recapture, and greenhouse horticulture including both use of low‐grade surplus heat and recycling of society's organic waste that is converted to animal feed and fertilizer. The study indicates that by combining the use of surplus energy with harvest of society's organic side flows, for example, food waste and aquatic‐based cash crops, sustainable food systems are possible at a level of significance also for global food security. The effects of the proposed heat reuse model are discussed in a system perspective and in the context of the UNSCD indicator framework. The potential sustainability benefits of such an effort are shown to be substantial and multifaceted.

Highlights

The opportunity to recycle low-grade heatIn recent years, there has been a substantially increased research effort into the use of low-grade waste heat
“In the USA, over two-thirds of the primary energy supply is rejected as low- grade waste heat” [3]
Sweden, considered a world leader in heat recycling with its well-developed district heating networks, reuses 4 TWh of 9.5 available industrial waste heat [4]. This figure does not include the considerably larger waste heat streams from nuclear power

Summary

Introduction

There has been a substantially increased research effort into the use of low-grade waste heat. Sweden, considered a world leader in heat recycling with its well-developed district heating networks, reuses 4 TWh of 9.5 available industrial waste heat [4]. This figure does not include the considerably larger waste heat streams from nuclear power. “temperatures as high as 60°C are sufficient to cool microprocessors” and “switching to liquid cooling [is] inevitable” [5] This would lead to two improvements, greater efficiency in the data center and the possibility to utilize the waste heat. What potential sustainability benefits and costs might be associated with the heat recycling and how may they be evaluated?

Methods

Findings

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