Denmark is set to create two massive heat pumps that will provide CO2-neutral warmth to 27,000 households using wind energy. While heat pumps are typically used to heat small properties, German company MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES) offers larger heat pumps that can supply thousands of households. In the Danish port city of Esbjerg, two of these heat pumps are being installed, which can produce heat for 27,000 households through a new district heating system. The majority of the energy for the heat pumps will be generated by wind power, with heat being extracted from the sea. The system does not require fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, or oil, and instead uses CO2 as a coolant.
According to MAN ES, the total heating capacity of the two heat pumps is 48 megawatts (MW), with a maximum temperature of 150 degrees Celsius. However, the system will only reach 90 degrees Celsius during regular operation. If the capacity is fully utilized, an impressive 2.5 million liters of water could be heated to boiling point in just four hours. This is equivalent to the energy required to heat the water in an Olympic-sized swimming pool from 20 degrees Celsius to 100 degrees Celsius. Cooling the same amount of water would take approximately 11 hours to freeze it completely.
Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is also planning to build a heat pump system with an impressive heating capacity of 500 MW. The tendering process for this ambitious project is currently underway. The use of heat pumps in large-scale heating systems is a promising development in the transition to renewable energy sources. By utilizing wind power and seawater, Denmark is leading the way in sustainable heating solutions.
