Until now, heat generated by laboratories, cold storage facilities and servers has largely been an unavoidable by-product of activities at DTU. With two new heat pumps commissioned this summer, a significant share of that energy can now be recovered and put to use instead of being wasted.

"Once the heat pumps are operating at full capacity, we expect them to cover the equivalent of 35 per cent of the heating demand at DTU Lyngby Campus," says Rasmus Biener de Taeje, Project Manager in Campus Service.

The heat pumps provide both heating and cooling for campus buildings and technical installations. For example, cooling systems used to maintain low temperatures in cold storage facilities generate excess heat as a by-product. That heat is now captured and reused to warm offices and classrooms, while also contributing to the production of hot water across campus.

The project represents another important step in the ongoing development of DTU's energy system. Over the years, the university has transitioned from oil and natural gas to district heating and is now increasingly focused on recovering and reusing surplus energy. According to Anders B. Møller, DTU's Campus Director, the approach is rooted in making the most of resources that are already available.

"Many solutions begin with recognising the potential of what we already have. With the new heat pumps, we are giving new value to energy that would previously have been lost. The same thinking underpins many of our sustainability initiatives, where we focus on using resources more efficiently and creating greater value from existing assets. One example is our efforts to refurbish and reuse furniture instead of purchasing new items," says Anders B. Møller.

A living lab for research and education

The heat pumps are more than just a new piece of energy infrastructure. They also serve as a living lab, where students and researchers can access operational and performance data from the system and apply it in teaching, research and the development of future energy solutions.

For Rasmus Biener de Taeje, who has led the project from concept to implementation, it is particularly rewarding to see that the facility is already attracting interest from researchers and educators.

"It is fantastic to see students and researchers making active use of the system. Even at this early stage, it has become part of DTU's research and teaching activities," he says.