Heat and cooling from the ground, for the whole campus
Radboud University’s thermal energy storage system has been in operation for twenty years and originally began as an energy supply for the Huygens Building alone. The system has since grown to become the backbone of the campus energy network (HEN): no less than 90% of the university’s buildings are now connected to it. By making smart use of the heat and cold stored in the ground, gas consumption on campus has fallen significantly in recent years
Expansion and modernisation
Now that the system is twenty years old, it is time for maintenance and an upgrade. Two new wells are being drilled, one on the hot side and one on the cold side, to a depth of around 75 metres. This brings the total to six wells on each side. The installations and control technology are also being simplified and optimised, making the system easier to manage. And space has already been set aside for a potential seventh well in the future, should demand continue to grow.