Underground Hot Air Finds a Use

The Mayor of London has set ambitious aims for the city to become a zero carbon city by 2050. One of the major challenges it faces is in decarbonising the supply of heat to homes and businesses. A key decarbonisation option is to make use of waste heat: according to Greater London Authority (GLA), enough heat is wasted in London to meet 38% of the city’s heating demand. The London Underground is a significant source of waste heat. Its capture and distribution through a network of underground pipes offers a substantial opportunity to assist London in achieving a clean, cost effective transition towards a zero carbon economy. Building upon the successful delivery of the Bunhill heat recovery scheme in Islington, Transport for London (TfL) have carried out a further feasibility study of recovering waste heat at existing TfL ventilation shafts. This study looked at 55 ventilation shaft sites across London on TfL deep underground lines, namely: the Victoria, Piccadilly, Northern and Central lines. The sites were scored on a range of technical, operational, environmental and economic criteria. These included the identification of nearby heat receptors that may connect into such a system. From the initial 55, a total of 6 were progressed to this third and final phase of the study which investigates site feasibility in more detail. The presentation will cover: An introduction into TfL’s wider energy strategy A background to the recent 55 site TfL/ARUP feasibility study investigating recovering waste heat from legacy ventilation shafts. Key challenges and outcomes of the study. TfL taking these opportunities to market. Declan Murphy: Declan is a Mechanical Engineer within Building Services at Transport for London. He is a subject matter expert in tunnel ventilation systems and their applications. He has worked across projects such as the Jubilee Line Extension, Bakerloo Line Extension, HS2 and Crossrail to deliver high quality cooling and smoke control provisions which also facilitate safe evacuation in the event of fire. He provides ongoing technical assurance for waste heat schemes at TfL leading in the definition of technical requirements in line with TfL operational needs. Laura Duly: Laura joined Transport for London’s Project and Programme Delivery Directorate in 2010. She has delivered a range of projects including the major upgrade and relocation of the control room which TfL operators rely on to monitor and manage the 2000 assets in TfL’s twelve road tunnels, as well as key Mayoral initiatives such as the Toxicity Charge and the Direct Vision Standard and associated HGV Safety Permit Scheme. Laura joined TfL’s Energy Strategy team in 2020 and is working with stakeholders across TfL to deliver the Mayor’s ambition for TfL to operate a zero-carbon railway by 2030. Dr Alban Leiper: Alban is an Associate in Arup’s Energy, Cities and Climate Change Consultancy team in London, leading a team of Energy Engineers on delivering the energy transition, and helping achieve a net-zero carbon future. As well as his technical specialism in heat pumps, waste heat recovery and district heating, Alban has a passion for applying innovative digital solutions to engineering problems, driving project commercialisation and delivery, as well as influencing energy policy and regulation. He has led projects for TfL, BEIS, the GLA, the Houses of Parliament and many London Boroughs and other local authorities.