ShareFrom waste to warmth: Geospatial information for UK waste heat recovery and Net-Zero energy systems
A new project led by London South Bank University (LSBU) aims to map and assess waste heat generated by cooling systems in urban areas, starting with Birmingham.
The Waste Heat Assessment and Resource Mapping (WHARM) project will focus on identifying heat sources from data centres, supermarkets, cold storage, and industrial sites, and explore opportunities to repurpose or “export” this waste heat to neighbouring buildings.
While waste heat is abundant, understanding its exact location, quantity, quality, and cleanliness is crucial for its effective use. According to Dave Pearson, Group Sustainable Development Director at Star Refrigeration, knowing these details will help to advise whether to boost the heat back up with industrial heat pumps or make it available for use in district heating networks.
Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) through the REnewable Energy for Future UK Net-Zero Cooling (Reef-UKC) network, the initiative will create a georeferenced database to improve understanding of waste heat potential, helping businesses and local authorities make informed decisions about energy reuse. The project partners include LSBU, Aston University, Birmingham City Council, Star Refrigeration, and Skilled Mapping. It is expected to contribute to the decarbonisation of cities and industries by promoting more efficient use of energy resources.
Sources
https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/about-us/news/new-research-to-map-and-assess-waste-heat-potential-in-cities
https://www.coolingpost.com/uk-news/unlocking-the-potential-of-waste-heat-from-cooling/