District Heating Scheme to save 1,600 tonnes of carbon
THE first phase of Tallaght’s new District Heating Scheme is expected to be operational from July 2022 and is estimated to save 1,600 tonnes of carbon annually.
The scheme, which is being led by South Dublin County Council, will operate as Ireland’s first not-for-profit heat utility and will make a significant contribution to reducing carbon emissions. The network will use excess heat from a customisation to Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) recently completed data centre to provide low carbon heat to public sector, residential and commercial customers.
The Tallaght District Heating Network is partly funded by the European Union’s Inter-Reg NWE programme (Heatnet), a multi-million-euro fund promoting carbon reduction through district-heating in Europe’s north-west, by a further €4.5 million from the Project Ireland 2040 Climate Action Fund and through direct funding from South Dublin County Council.
Works on the Tallaght District heating pipe-network, including pipe-laying and testing on the grounds of TUD Tallaght, were completed by the end of July 2021. Excavation and pipe-laying works on the Belgard Road linking TUD to the District Heating Energy Centre site beside the Amazon data centre on Airton Road were completed at the end of November, after six weeks of additional works due to unmarked and unmapped buried services at the Airton Road Junction. Excavation and pipe-laying works were also commenced on Belgard Square North in September and this section was completed in mid-November.
The propsed network
According to a recent update from the council, 60% of the pipe-network is now laid, tested and reinstated and works have recommenced at the Junction of Belgard Square North and East in the direction of Tallaght Hospital after being halted during the Christmas period.
Principal Construction commenced construction works on the Energy-centre building in August 2021. Substructural works are now completed, structural steel frame is in position, blockwork is underway and external cladding and roofing will commence in the coming weeks.
The project delivery programme has been impacted by some Covid related delays and two utility company related delays. The completion date for the District Heating Project including supply of heat to TUD Tallaght Main Building and County Hall is currently estimated that this first Phase will be operational from July 2022.
This initial phase of the Tallaght District heating is estimated to save 1600 tonnes of carbon annually and by 2024, the heat will also be supplied to nearby developments recently approved with planning permission, including affordable housing units, residential properties and student accommodation.
