Vridsløsemagle – Thermonet

Overview of the pipeline network and boreholes in Vridsløsemagle

Vridsløsemagle – Thermonet

  • Role: Consultant
  • Scope: 4,900 meters of pipes ranging in diameter from Ø50 to Ø280 mm
  • Client: Høje Taastrup District Heating
  • Contractors: Zacho-Lind (pipeline network), Kemp & Lauritzen (installation of heat pumps), Bosch (supply of heat pumps), Geodrilling (vertical drilling)
  • Construction Period: 2023-2024
The project involves converting oil-heated customers in the village of Vridsløsemagle to a thermonet – also known as “cold district heating.” The thermonet in Vridsløsemagle utilizes energy from the ground via a combination of vertical boreholes reaching approximately 200 meters in depth and horizontal distribution pipes supplying individual consumers. The system is designed to power individual heat pumps in each household using water-to-water heat pump technology. This method ensures efficient and sustainable heating, significantly reducing CO2 emissions compared to the reference scenario of oil heating. The project timeline spanned from November 2021, when the project proposal was initiated, to May 1, 2024, when the last section was commissioned.

Norsyn’s Contributions to the Project

Høje Taastrup District Heating initiated a preliminary study for the establishment of a thermonet in Vridsløsemagle, a so-called “oil village” with 110 homes in the Høje Taastrup Municipality. This innovative initiative aimed to convert homes from oil heating to a more sustainable and efficient thermonet.

At Norsyn we introduced the concept of thermonet/cold district heating and performed economic assessments for both the utility and the users of Høje Taastrup District Heating. These evaluations aimed to ensure the economic viability and sustainability of the project for all involved parties.

In addition to the initial economic evaluations, we also prepared a comprehensive project proposal that included socioeconomic calculations.

Following the approval of the project proposal, we managed the system’s design, detailed engineering, and tendering.

Pressure conditions in the network from the hydraulic Lean Heat model. The analysis identified pressure challenges, which were subsequently resolved.
PI diagram of the pumping station

The system’s design was carried out concerning both the hydraulic conditions of the network, for which we at Norsyn built a hydraulic model in Danfoss Leanheat, and energy and capacity demands. The system pressure must remain within 1-3 bar due to the heat pumps’ maximum and minimum pressure limitations, making pressure management crucial to the system design.

Additionally, we dimensioned the system concerning energy and capacity to ensure it can meet the required heat output during the coldest days of the year and deliver the annual energy demand.

The project demonstrates a successful transition from oil heating to an innovative thermonet, highlighting the potential for collective heating systems even in smaller villages where traditional district heating is not feasible, leaving individual heating solutions as the only alternative.

Osby, Vilev & Vorsby – Thermonet

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