PITAGORAS: opportunities for waste heat and solar thermal energy exploitation

The development of sustainable solutions for energy supply to cities is an urgent need nowadays to tackle the current energy and environmental challenges. The best use of local renewable sources is key to reduce the carbon footprint of cities, mitigate pollution problems, reduce energetic dependence on fossil fuels and promote a low-carbon based economy.

Efficient integration between cities and industries through smart thermal grids is the main pillar of the Pitagoras project. The urban-industrial symbiosis offers great opportunities that are not fully exploited yet. In this sense, Pitagoras aims at developing innovative solutions for the exploitation of two local sources: industrial waste heat and solar thermal energy.

The project, with a duration of 4 years, is at its final stage and successful results can be announced now.

In the city of Brescia (Italy), an innovative pilot plant for waste heat revalorisation has been built in the steel mill of ORI MARTIN. The waste heat recovery system has been installed in the flue gas path of the existing electric arc furnace. Saturated steam is produced which can either be used to power an ORC module for electricity production or heat exchangers to provide district heat to the urban district heating. The plant is currently under an extensive monitoring campaign, click here for more information.

In an industrial area of an oil and gas industry in the city of Kremsmünster (Austria), a large solar thermal plant in combination with a seasonal thermal energy storage is planned. The concept comprises the idea of reconverting an existing oil tank of 60.000 m³ of storage volume, that is no longer been used, into a STES allowing to store the surplus solar heat in summer and its use later on in winter months. For more information, please click here.

Pitagoras promotional video, see it here!

Read more about the Pitagoras project on the website: http://pitagorasproject.eu/