Eco in Denmark: World's largest solar district heating plant

Yesterday I went for a daytrip to city Marstal (on island Aeroe/ Aero), mostly famous for its sailor history and where the very last transport by sailboat happened. "Farewell To Sails" had its exhibition when I went there, restoring an old ship that drowned and I went for a museum ride. Apart from my enthusiasm for boats and everything that floats, I went to see another tale - how the trial supplement of a solar collector plant for the city's single swimmingpool became the world's largest district heating plant to cover 30 percent of whole Marstal's requirements for heating! I think it is so nice when a little try-out turns into something expansive and re-used, like this one!:)

The plant in whole, 18,354m2. The markers are pointing at the different producers of solar panels and collectors delivered to the plant (four), also the tank for storage, as well as the circulating system and the pit heat store.

Budget of such a project. Supported by EU and Danish Energy Authority

Originally, the story begins with Marstal wanting their swimmingpool to be heated from "alternative energy" because the oil heating had a way too expensive bill. This was in 1993, and economy pushed the island into thinking differently and it was after several meetings an idea of a solar heating system. At the same time Marstal District Heating was interested in replacing some of their waste oil consumption by more eco-friendly fuel. With alittle midwifery from the Danish Association of Consulting Engineers, it resulted in a solar collector on the swimmingpool roof in 1994. The 75m2 solar collectors were to heat the pool only. However, the system also served another purpose: It was a test system to show if solar heating on a major scale was worth staking on. And it was. After six months, the results on paying the heating bill looked so promising that they decided to develope 8,000m2 of solar panels on the field behind the heating plant - and connect them to the district heating network. This was the beginning of the great success! From May till October, Marstal's consumption is 100% covered by solar heating. Source: http://www.solarmarstal.dk/

In danish: A district heating storage, to store heat from solar panels.

Sailor city Marstal. Collecting muliple creativities from all over the world when travelling by the sea.

the restoration of an old sunken ship.

Eco in Denmark: Arriving at island Aeroe

I just arrived on one of the smallest, yet biggest islands in Denmark considering renewable energy, called Aeroe (Ærø), which is very similar to Samsoe (the 100% Renewable Energy Island) which I visited back in august (prev post: http://ecoiselin.blogspot.com/2010/08/eco-in-denmark-100-renewable-energy.html). One of the reasons I chose this island is that they host the WORLD's largest solar panel plant which would be one great sight and one hugh inspiration to visit! Even though Sweden is the leading country in Scandinavia overall when it comes to ecological implement (in business especially), I find these tiny islands of Denmark (Samsoe and Aeroe) as leading examples of what is the most human affected developement, where partner-ownerships and households are very responsible for the exceeding renewable energy process worldwide and in Europe. They both have the same ambition (which Samsoe now has accomplished); to become 100% self-sufficient by renewable energy. Aeroe is famous for its shipping and boat-life, which is also one of my favorites. I am going to pay city Marstal a visit during this coming week besides "wwoofing" (organic farm-works). The farm that welcomed me gave me free accomodation at one of their lux apartements(!) of a hundered square metres, and I feel very lucky to spend the days in such beautiful environment. The ocean is nearby with their own beach and just have a look:

The view from my apartement!

My very nice apartement here.

Big bed! :)

 

Eco in Denmark: WATER. The household wastewater, acid precipitation and groundwater

Fresh drinking water, acid precipitation, soil water storage, as well as wastewater and groundwater, is a big problem or challenge in today's fresh water loss and biomass growth. Not only is it unhealthy for us, but also with our spill of chemicals, important vegetation is losing minerals to grow and the groundwater itself that is moving outside of the community sewer transportation would end up disturbing already fresh lakes,coastline and rivers that we are also using and animals are in. Big, growing problem... and the EU has decided that all the member countries within year 2015 will have to make sure the water condition is good.

Where to find one solution? On my very first stop on this trip, I cannot avoid telling about their very own constructed waterland system (økologisk pileanlegg)! With inspiration from Odsherred, "Fri og Fro"-ecovillage August 9 - 16:
 

 " We're refreshing our own grey wastewater in a special-designed evaportranspiration construction!" - The folder explains, which I got hold of at the ecovillage in Odsherred, Denmark. As well as our own wastewater, it also takes acid precipitation (sur nedbør) and precipitation as it evaporates (fordamper)!

HERE'S HOW:

A polyethylene-lined basin (the ecovillage in Odsherred has installed 6 basins) filled with soil is planted with clones of willow (Salix viminalis) (piler) grown as a short rotation coppice. The basin receives input from wastewater and precipitation and has no discharge, but the water is evapotranspired by the willow and nutrients are consumed by the willow biomass, which is cut down regularly. 

The species Salix viminalis was effective in evapotranspiring (fordampning). It was concluded that the yearly ETA (måling av fordampning) of the constructed wetlands is more than twice as high as potential evaporation calculated from Makkink. The average potential evaporation (Makkink) in Denmark is 582mmyear-1. The measured ETA from a constructed wetland (økologisk pileanlegg) in Jutland (Jylland) was 1332mmyear -1. (Source:Susanne Rosenild,2005).

The willows, which are fast to grow, are using the minerals in the water to grow and evaporate the water through its leaves. The evaporated water is completely clean,and the report also says the system is called "oasis effect", as it basically is a constructed oasis! Some waterland constructions also plant more vegetation and long rows of willows especially around such a site, to create yet more feedback to the ecosystem. The wastewater is conducted from the single grounds til four bottom tanks, where it gets pushed through some cords up to the waterland construction. Here there are some instruments to analyze the incoming water and water level. 

If there is something wrong in the system, the whole construction actually sends an sms and alarms one of the members of the ecovillage community! Also when there is too much wastewater. What an invention!

For more information, in danish and some english, read an environmental research report here.

Eco in Denmark: The 100% Renewable Energy Island

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: 

Samsoe (Samsø / Samso) is an island between island Sjaelland and the Jylland in Denmark, 114 square kilometres and 4000 inhabitants. We took a local ferry to find an island with top technology from both worlds! The farmers, the scientists, the locals and the top technical equipment for becoming a leading flagship of energy. Today, after 10 years of developement, Samsoe is hosting lots of "energy tourists" and curious energy enthusiasts from all over the world. How they made it happen, is a nice story itself. The key is participation. This trip was done August 9th to discover how this island is 100% self-sustained from renewable energy, and managed to get a guided tour around the wonderful island:

Above: Air heating and conditioning system