South Dublin County Council has announced that the Tallaght District Heating Scheme (TDHS) has won the 'Emerging District Energy Market' award at the Global District-Energy Climate Awards in Brussels. 

The award recognises the successful implementation of a district energy system in a country where district heating is currently being established. The Global District Energy Climate Awards celebrate success and collective attainment in the district heating and cooling sector. The ceremony of the eighth edition of the awards was held during the Euroheat & Power Summit on November 14-15, 2023, in Brussels, Belgium. 

Euroheat and Power, established in 1954, is the European association promoting sustainable district heating and cooling in Europe and beyond. With more than 140 members spread across 30 countries, Euroheat and Power brings together a diverse community of stakeholders from national associations, companies, start-ups, consultancies, and universities.

The finalists represented local district energy pioneers showcasing leadership in delivering clean and sustainable energy solutions.  The council is delighted that its company Heat Works has been recognised among such a high standard of entries.

The annual Euroheat and Power Summit in Brussels serves as a dynamic platform for the awards ceremony, attracting more than 230 professionals from global organisations, industry leaders, policymakers, and civil society representatives.

Scheme represents a significant leap forward

Heat Works, Ireland's first not-for-profit energy utility, is fully owned by the South Dublin County Council. The TDHS is the first large-scale district heating network of its kind in Ireland. Launched earlier this year, the scheme represents a significant leap forward in Ireland's efforts to deliver low-carbon heating solutions.

The heart of the innovation lies in the fact that waste heat generated by the nearby Amazon data centre is harnessed to supply heat to the TDHS network. The collaborative effort between South Dublin County Council, Amazon Web Services, Fortum (the Finnish energy-supply company), has resulted in a low-carbon solution, leveraging recyclable heat through bespoke innovative heat-pump technology.

The partnership between South Dublin County Council and Codema (City of Dublin Energy-management agency) has been instrumental in the development of this innovative, low-carbon initiative.

The environmental impact is substantial, with the TDHS set to save almost 1,500 tonnes of CO₂ annually. This achievement not only establishes Tallaght as a leader in climate change innovation but also contributes significantly to the county's carbon reduction goals. By showcasing the environmental value and potential of district heating in Tallaght, the project aims to inspire similar initiatives across Ireland.

Funded with the support of the European Union's Interreg NWE programme (HeatNet), the Project Ireland 2040 Climate Action Fund, SEAI, and with direct funding from the council, the Tallaght District Heating Scheme aligns with the ambitious targets set in the government's Climate Action Plan 2023.

The plan envisions Ireland reaching up to 0.8 TWh of district heating by 2025 and up to 2.7 TWh by 2030, emphasising the commitment to sustainable energy solutions.

Teresa Walsh, director of services in SDCC and secretary to the Board of Heatworks, said: "This award is a testament to the collaborative efforts and commitment to innovation showcased by the Public and Private stakeholders involved. The Tallaght District Heating Scheme is not only a local success story for a committed and courageous local authority but a working exemplar for the broader transition to low-carbon heating solutions across Ireland."

Neil Morris, AWS country lead said: “Having this project recognised at a European level is testament to work done by so many people in SDCC and across the Tallaght Community.

Shared visions

"It’s a fantastic example of what can be achieved when the private sector, community-based organisations and both local and national government agencies combine their expertise and shared visions for the betterment of the local community and the planet.

"This project will benefit the people of Tallaght for years to come, as well as delivering for the 2030 national renewable energy target. We at Amazon look forward to being involved in many other projects in the same vein both in Ireland and across the world.”

Kari Lahti, director of Fortum eNext Ireland, said: “Warm congratulations on behalf of the whole Fortum project team for this important recognition! We are honoured to be part of the solution as we strongly believe that carbon neutrality is best achieved by recycling clean energy from local heat sources as efficiently as possible.

"In Dublin, we were able to use the expertise gained from our innovative Espoo Clean Heat decarbonisation programme in Finland. The programme has proved that carbon-free heat off-take from data centres is one of the most promising ways to mitigate climate change on a large scale.”