Roadmap for Integration of Geo-Thermal Energy in Rotterdam
This project was a part of a Joint Interdisciplinary Project organized by TU Delft in the academic year 2021-22. The course brought students from different academic backgrounds together to solve real-world problems. I teamed up with Jeroen Emmerik and Angela Klein, who are studying M.Sc. Multi-Machine Engineering and M.Sc. Water Management at TU Delft, respectively. Our team was interdisciplinary and intercultural, making this experience even more rewarding. We worked with Gemeente Rotterdam (Municipality of Rotterdam) to create a roadmap for integrating geo-thermal energy into future urban development projects planned in the Waalhaven area of Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Waalhaven is part of the old harbor area that is proposed to be converted into a residential area to tackle the housing crisis in the region. This area is also rich in geothermal resources that can be used for residential heating, reducing dependency on gas import. However, there is still a lot of misinformation around geothermal energy, leading to negative public perception. Additionally, identifying the technology, capacity, scale, and location required for the plant is quite challenging at a later stage of urban development. Therefore, to optimize the potential of geothermal energy, its application should be integrated with urban planning. This project tackled all the aforementioned challenges by creating a roadmap for integrating geothermal energy into urban planning.
Project outcomes
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Clear roadmap presented to city planners, identifying optimal integration points for geothermal plants in Waalhaven.
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Communication strategy drafted to improve local acceptance and correct misconceptions surrounding geothermal energy.
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Poster presentation created to summarize the framework and deliverables, which was shared with project stakeholders and academic peers.
This project exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and early integration of sustainability into urban planning
My contribution to this project was an actor network scan and preparing a social engagement strategy. I also contributed to the estimation of heating demand for the planned neighborhood.