Mega heat pump delivers first heat in Esbjerg

MAN Energy Solutions has announced the successful commissioning of the first unit of its industrial-scale heat pump in Esbjerg, Denmark.

The CO2-based heat pump system, with a total heating capacity of 70MW, operates in tandem with a new 60MW wood chip boiler and a 40MW electric boiler plant.

The new heat pump plant will supply approximately 280,000MWh of heat annually to the district heating networks of Esbjerg and neighbouring Varde, reducing CO2 emissions by 120,000 tonnes per year.

Also, the solution will provide power-balancing of the electrical grid and can be switched on and off multiple times a day with fast reaction capability.

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Located at the Port of Esbjerg, and operated by utility company DIN Forsyning, the plant harnesses energy from nearby wind farms and seawater.

DIN Forsyning provides an explanation of how the system operates: A seawater heat pump is a closed system consisting of two chambers. In one, liquid - in this instance CO2 - is formed into steam, which is transferred to the other chamber. Here the pressure is increased, after which heat is produced. The heat is used to heat up the district heating return water. The cooled vapour turns back into liquid, which is sent over to the first tank again for evaporation. It is therefore not seawater that ends up in the radiator - and it is not radiator water that returns to the sea. These are two separate circuits that cross each other.

Helle Damm-Henrichsen, managing director of DIN Forsyning, commented in a statement: “This is a significant milestone that we have eagerly anticipated for a long time. From now on, all our customers in Varde and Esbjerg will benefit from district heating directly sourced by the North Sea. This achievement is not only transformative for DIN Forsyning but also a major step forward for the climate. While we may be in western Jutland, I believe it’s fair to call this a world premiere: the world’s largest CO2-based seawater heat pump is now producing heat.”

Dr Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Energy Solutions, stated: “I’m extremely proud that our Mega Heat Pump is now providing climate-neutral heat to the people of Esbjerg and Varde. As a pioneering city, Esbjerg demonstrates how urban heating systems can be reshaped by harnessing renewable energy sources. Utilising innovative industrial-scale heat pumps to deliver sustainable heating is not just a technological achievement but a blueprint for other cities worldwide as they transition to greener energy systems.”

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At the core of the plant are two MAN Energy Solutions HOFIM motor-compressor units. These units use high-speed motors and active magnetic bearings, eliminating the need for oil and reducing maintenance requirements.

The machines will be connected for remote monitoring, data-analytics and diagnostics of the compressor technology and the auxiliary systems.

The facility is part of the transition to replace the city’s coal-fired power plant, which Orsted stopped operating in August this year. Esbjerg Power Station consumed about 500,000 tonnes of coal annually, equivalent to approximately 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions