Can London Underground's waste heat help to combat climate change?

[fandroid]

There's an article in today's Times about using waste underground heat to heat above-ground buildings. Extract below. The first part majors on an Austrian/German study about the waste heat created in underground car parks and focusses on Berlin.

However, we all know what a big problem London's Underground has with increasing temperatures. Given the focus on air-source heat-pumps to replace domestic heating from gas boilers, it would seem to be a no-brainer to extract the warm air from Tube tunnels to provide the source air for heat pumps above ground.

 

[stuu]

Already being done:
https://www.ramboll.com/en-gb/projects/energy/bunhill

The state-of the-art energy centre that uses heat from London’s underground adds 550 homes and a primary school to the existing heat and power district energy network with the potential to support up to 2,200 homes with cheaper, greener heat every day of the year.

 

[yorksrob]

Old mine workings are being used in a similar way in Barnsley.

 

[fandroid]

Already being done:
https://www.ramboll.com/en-gb/projects/energy/bunhill

That's a good one, but relies on two existing features: local district heating infrastructure and a disused Tube station to house the gear. Massive developments like those by Tottenham Hale and Blackhorse Road stations will have to find non-fossil fuel heating solutions in the future. Maybe they can retrofit something similar.

 

[Recessio]

My hope is that if they ever start retrofitting stations with that new cooling system they trialled a few years ago, that some effort would be done to ensure it will be easy to pipe the heat out somewhere useful in the future if something comes along nearby - e.g. A heat pump, electricity generation, or a district heating network - rather than just blast it out into the atmosphere.

 

[edwin_m]

That's a good one, but relies on two existing features: local district heating infrastructure and a disused Tube station to house the gear. Massive developments like those by Tottenham Hale and Blackhorse Road stations will have to find non-fossil fuel heating solutions in the future. Maybe they can retrofit something similar.

I'd have thought someone would be able to install air source heat pumps in an existing ventilation shaft to heat some nearby building, assuming it's big enough and possible to provide maintenance access. Maybe one for the hotel next to Marylebone which is apparently built round such a shaft?

 

[D7666]

Before one captures this waste heat one must capture quite a lot of ££££s from somewhere to execute these wonderful ideas. As LU has been limping, and still is, from short term plan to short term plan, all of less than 12 mo duration, for some years now, and has no long term budget for somewhat more important things like anything beyond 2024TS, suggestions from where funds to pay for heat recovery on a postcard please to E20 1JN.

 

[SynthD]

Maybe one for the hotel next to Marylebone which is apparently built round such a shaft?

ArcGIS Web Application

tfl.maps.arcgis.com

If the shaft exists, TfL don’t own it.

 

[edwin_m]

Before one captures this waste heat one must capture quite a lot of ££££s from somewhere to execute these wonderful ideas. As LU has been limping, and still is, from short term plan to short term plan, all of less than 12 mo duration, for some years now, and has no long term budget for somewhat more important things like anything beyond 2024TS, suggestions from where funds to pay for heat recovery on a postcard please to E20 1JN.

It would have to be an investment by whoever was benefiting from the heating, or by a third party who would put the money in and charge the users. I have no idea if it would stack up economically, but some large users do manage to make heat pumps work.

ArcGIS Web Application

tfl.maps.arcgis.com

If the shaft exists, TfL don’t own it.

I think it was mentioned in one of the Hidden London videos - it's in the Travelodge. Probably all the better for some private investor as above, if it isn't a TfL asset with whatever complication that entails. Always assuming it's a shaft where hot air comes out, not where cool air goes in!

 

[Mojo]

ArcGIS Web Application

tfl.maps.arcgis.com

If the shaft exists, TfL don’t own it.

It is shown on the map to which you have linked.