ProjectZero

Sønderborg’s integrated energy system is the backbone in our cost-effective transition since it allows for the most efficient use of energy. Sønderborg Municipality is supplied with energy from many renewable energy sources, including a planned coastal wind park. The electrification of the economy requires a lot of renewable energy, which in turn requires a balancing of consumption to minimize investments. But not all vehicles and production processes can run on direct electricity. Renewable energy is also used to produce hydrogen or synthetic fuels that can replace fossil fuels where needed.

The primary source of heating buildings and supplying hot water is from the district energy system. One of the main strengths of district energy systems is their capacity to integrate different energy sources that can push fossil fuels out of the energy mix. That includes renewable energy, which can be used not only to keep the lights on but to heat homes and power transport, a concept called sector integration.

And it includes excess heat. A laptop generates heat to operate, and a data center does the same in large scale. Excess heat from data centers can be reused through the district energy system to supply heat to buildings and industries. The same goes for supermarkets, biogas production, wastewater management and many other industrial or commercial processes. And the district energy system is the binding link.

Today, most heat and electricity come from non-fossil waste and biomass. But the journey is not complete. By the end of 2020, there was still 40,000 tons of CO2 to be eliminated by 2029.

To eliminate the remaining CO2, we now focus on electrification combined with utilization of excess heat.

In a small town outside Sønderborg, Denmark, a local supermarket reuses the excess heat that is generated from cooling displays and freezers.

The local supermarket cover 78% of their heating bill by reusing heat from its cooling displays.

The supermarket sells green excess heat to nearby homes and companies through the district energy system.

As the world groes, new city areas are added all over the world. How they are constructed is am important factor in the green transition. The new city area of Linde Haven in Sønderborg is built to meet the highest sustainability standards, not least regarding energy efficiency. Energy efficient design of the buildings allows Linde Haven to be supplied by low-temperature district heating.

Linde Haven will operate at low temperature, which has the potential to reduce distribution heat loss by an estimated 31% compared to similar buildings operating at normal temperatures.

Reducing energy consumption in the heavy industry is central to a sustainable transition of the energy sector.

For the past 30 years, Vesterled Vesterled brick plant has been Denmark´s most energy efficient brick plant. Vesterled is part of the Wienerberger Group, and has worked strategically to improve sustanability in their entire value chain .

Vesterled brick plant is on the path to carbon neutrality. The factory has reduced their energy consumption for heating by an estimated 29% in 20 years by improving energy efficiency, reusing heat and by designing a new brick. And they have cut carbon emissions in production by an estimated 36%

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The islands of Ærø and Als are connected by Ellen – the longest ranging fully electric ferry in the world.

Ellen shows the potential in maritime electrification. The ferry does not emit carbon and operated at a low cost. In Europe alone, 696 operating ferries can be replaces by an electric solution similar to Ellen.

Ellen operates at a 24% lower cost compared to a new diesel ferry. In operation Ellen saves 2.520 tons of CO2 compared to the best technological alternative and close to 4,000 tons when compared to an existing older ferry.

In this Smart Store, Danfoss cooling and heating technologies are in operation 24/7. It is not a laboratory that simulates reality, but a living supermarket, where customers and employees open refrigirated display cases hundreds of times a day – and each time it requires cooling and heating in the supermarket. Danfoss Smart Store demonstrates the innovative and accessible solutions in action. 

The installations and technologies in the supermarket are scalable. They can be applied in the smallest store up to the largest hypermarket.

Danfoss is Denmark´s largest industrial company. Danfoss´ solutions are unique, but their Nordborg factory in Danmark is not. With 250,000 m2 of production, administration and testing facilities, the Danfoss Nordborg factory site mirrors factory sites around the world.

In 2022 the Nordborg factory became carbon neutral. By implementing available solutions, all with an estimated payback time of less than 3 years. the energy used has been reduced significantly.

The Nordborg factory shows how factory sites can become part of the local energy grid, providing lower energy prices for local community and at the same time reducing consumption of natural gas significantly.

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