Oosterdokseiland

Contract: Turnkey construction and operation of long-term energy storage (LTES)
Client: Bouwfonds MAB and Meyer Bergman, on behalf of the joint developers of Oosterdokseiland
Completion: Summer 2006

Oosterdokseiland, an island next to Amsterdam Central Station, is being redeveloped with a unique mix of metropolitan and public functions, including a hotel and conference centre, library, conservatorium, shops, 80,000 square metres of office space, cafes and restaurants and over 300 apartments. GTI has built a long-term energy storage (LTES) system that will provide the complex with heating and cooling for the next fifteen years. During this time, GTI will also be operating, managing and maintaining the system.

Sustainable energy through heat and cold storage
Combining heat and cold generation with in-ground storage provides sustainable energy to all the buildings that are connected. In winter, the heat generated is used immediately and the associated cold is stored in the ground at the same time. In summer the process works in reverse: cold is used and heat is stored.

Bio-oil-fired boiler adds capacity
On the coldest days of the year, the heat pumps are not able to meet all the demand for heat. A bio-oil-fired boiler is used to generate the last five to ten per cent of heat required. The carbon dioxide released when this vegetable oil fuel is burnt does not contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Work carried out
GTI was responsible for developing/installing the heat and cold sources, delivery stations, heat pumps, heating boiler, and the piping to and from the different buildings and between the sources and the power plant. The LTES system and bio-oil-fired boiler emit 65% less carbon dioxide than conventional installations