CASE STUDY: City district Heating and Cooling

SECTOR: Energy Country: Netherlands

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BACKGROUND

Ambition

Figure 1: Zuidas (source: gemeentearchief Amsterdam)

The Amsterdam Zuidas region is situated on both sides of the A10 South ring road between the Amstel and Schinkel rivers, and has the Zuid/WTC station in its centre. The project area forms the connection between the attractive residential areas Zuid [Amsterdam South] and Buitenveldert in the ZuiderAmstel district. Thanks to it’s favourable location in relation to Schiphol Airport and the centre of Amsterdam, coupled with the short travel times due to the convergence of roads, trains, trams and buses, the Zuidas is a highly attractive choice for people and companies to situate their activities. The fact that the ABN AMRO and ING banks have chosen the Zuidas as thelocation for their head offices is a clear indication of the region's success.

'Zuidas: Urban, accessible, innovative and with international flair'

The municipality of Amsterdam's ambition
In order to create a new stretch of city within a city, the municipality of Amsterdam wants to move 1.2 kilometres of infrastructure underground (ring roads, rail and underground tracks). This so-called 'basement' construction would not only reunite the area that is currently transacted by roads and rails but also connect the Berlage plan (Amsterdam South) with that of Van Eesteren (Buitenveldert), thus creating an expansive new area for construction. Placing the infrastructure underground would so reduce noise pollution that the entire Zuidas could be a pleasant area for living, working and sojourning.
Developing the Zuidas would enable a new stretch of 21st century city to be added to Amsterdam. 8,500 residences are due to be constructed and 50,000 more people will work here than at present. In order to create attractive urban living space, a wide variety of high-quality amenities will be developed, covering approximately 250,000 m2. The station shall expand to become the Netherlands' fifth largest station, serving as a public transport junction for trains, the high-speed rail link, the underground (such as the North/South line), trams and buses, as well as for taxis, cars (kiss and ride), cyclists and pedestrians.

The government's ambition
In 1997 the government designated the Zuidas as a New Key Project (NSP), thus emphasising the region's importance as a location for the high-speed rail link (HSL). As stated by the government, the Zuidas offers 'outstanding opportunities for realising policy objectives such as multiple use of land, optimum use of a traffic junction, urban renewal and the implementation of high environmental ambitions (sustainability and ecology)'.

The sustainable part of the project.
In all plans and projects environmental standards are high. Sustainability and quality are parts of planning, development, building and exploitation.

For this huge development in a high density, the energy demand could be extremely high. About 17% of the primary energy is used for heating. 83% is used for generating electricity. 37% of the electricity is used for cooling.

Without any measures this could be a negative cycle: electricity is used and transformed in heat, therefore you need cooling and that means more electricity and so on.

To break this cycle a wide variety of processes are started:

• Project development organizations and architects are aware of the high standards for energy performance and the possibilities of insulation, orientation, the use of glass, etc.
• Energy-advisors are involved in the early stage of the project and modern software programs are used to optimise construction, isolation, glass, and lighting, heating and cooling.
• Discussion about low investments and high costs of exploitation versus high investments and low costs of exploitation.
• The research for city district heating and cooling systems, including the use of aquifers to store heat in the summer for the next winter.
• The inventory of the advantages and disadvantages of the scale of the Zuidas project in relation to energy systems.
• The role and the responsibilities of all partners in the project: the municipality, the project development and housing corporations, the investors, the energy and constructing companies and all other partners.

The process
In 1998 a Masterplan was developed, followed by the Vision Zuidas 2001. Now we are working on the vision 2003 that has to be approved at the end of 2003. The vision 2003 includes the necessary choices for the energy system or systems. We also want to implement new European regulations about the energy performance of buildings.

INDICATORS
In the Vision 2001 we defined our goal as: ‘a 40% lower energy use compared to the actual standards.
In the energy vision (January 2003), a study for the vision 2003, was calculated that a 30% lower energy use could be reached quite easily. For the last 10% new techniques, new co-operations and extra investments are necessary. One of the participating energy companies claims that city district cooling could perform 75% better than standard cooling.

EVALUATION
The development of the Zuidas will go on till 2020 or 2030. Every project that is finished is an evaluation of our sustainable policy. Until now we are not really satisfied. But the new projects and the advantages of the scale shows great promise

BENCHMARK DATA
Not available

DRIVERS
The Zuidas Project Bureau is the driving force for the sustainable development. Co-operation with other public and private partners is one of the main issues.

LESSONS LEARNT
The experiences of the projects are used in the development of new projects. Communication about the projects and the problems is important. New parties want to participate and they bring new solutions. E.g. City district cooling.

TRANSFERABILITY
Huge projects have a lot in common, but it is not easy to use the ‘recipe’ of the Zuidas for other projects. Local conditions are different. But inspiring examples can be used everywhere.

IMPACT ON SUSTAINABILITY AREAS
Environmental: High
Social: The project is a mix of working and living. Liveability, safety, public spaces and cultural events are included
Economic: The project offers finally 60.000 jobs in different lines of business

PROJECT CONTACT:

Environmental and Building Department City of Amsterdam
Nic Frederiks
P.O. Box 922
1000 AX Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Tel. +31 20 5513849. Fax +31 20 4208325 E-mail: n.frederiks@dmb.amsterdam.nl