FORTUM CORPORATION ONLINE NEWS 6 April 2023
South Dublin County Council (SDCC) initiated the pilot project to exemplify the environmental value and potential of district heating in Ireland. It also paves way to transitioning from gas to a more self-sufficient and cleaner heat production. Fortum was contracted to carry out the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the network.
The district heating network recycles waste heat to properties from the Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centre. The district heating network is owned by Ireland’s first publicly owned, not-for-profit energy company, trading as Heatworks.
Tallaght's district heating concept was created in collaboration with Fortum, SDCC, AWS and Dublin's Energy Agency, CODEMA. In the first phase, the approximately 1.5 kilometer long district heating network will heat 32,800 m2 of public buildings. At this stage, district heating is estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 1,500 tons per year. In 2024, 133 apartments will be connected to the network. More public buildings will be connected to it in the same and the following year.
"We are very happy that we were chosen to deliver a low-emission heating solution to Tallaght," says Kari Lahti, who is heading the development of Fortum's Heating and Cooling business in Ireland. "Our district heating expertise is based especially on the innovative carbon neutrality solutions of the Espoo Clean Heat programme in Finland. Our local knowledge arises from the 25-year presence in Ireland and Great Britain, where we have offered, among other things, long-term operation and maintenance services to various customers."
Minister for the Environment, Climate & Communications and Transport, Eamon Ryan TD and the Mayor of South Dublin County, Councillor Emma Murphy, officially opened the district heating network on April 6, 2023. Finland's ambassador to Ireland, Raili Lahnalampi, was also present in the opening.
More information:
Kari Lahti, Fortum's Heating and Cooling business development in Ireland, kari [dot] lahti [at] fortum [dot] com
https://www.espoocleanheat.com
https://www.fortum.com/media/2020/12/south-dublin-county-council-support-amazon-web-services-aws-and-fortum-enext-create-irelands-first-publicly-owned-not-profit-energy-company