Tilburg, the city where people skate on ‘green ice’
Bunnik. Cofely, a GDF SUEZ company, has realised a sustainable project commissioned by the Consortium Stappegoor B.V. for the Municipality of Tilburg in the district of Nieuw-Stappegoor. For the new multifunctional sports complex, covering over 31,000 m2, several different business units of Cofely have installed a sustainable energy provision that has reduced the CO2 emissions by a quarter and has provided the ice rink with a ‘green’ freezing system. Moreover, Cofely is responsible for all the mechanical and electrical engineering, including the security installations. The agreements represent a contract value of 10.8 million euros.
Sustainable energy in the long term
Cofely has been responsible for the design, construction and management of the complete energy supply and installation. The power plant is built on the basis of heat/cold sources. Using Aquifier Thermal Energy Storage (ATES), heat and cold storage are employed either to heat or cool the buildings, depending on the season. In the winter this is realised by pumping up water from the heat source. This water gives its warmth to the heating pumps for heating the sports complex. Then, having cooled off to a temperature of 7 or 8 degrees centigrade, this water is stored in the cold source. In turn, this can be used in the summer in order to cool the buildings. The heat and cold sources are situated at 70 metres underground. This level is made up of a water-bearing sand layer with a natural ground temperature of 12 degrees centigrade. During the summer the heat is stored in the sand layer nearby: the heat source. For the coming 15 years, Cofely will be responsible for operating the power plant, which has been housed separately in its own building. This comprises, besides a groundwater source, a delivery station, water pumps and heating boilers. By out sourcing the maintenance and management of the power plant, the Municipality of Tilburg is assured of extensive energy savings throughout the whole operation period.
‘Green ice rink’
Cofely has also developed a sustainable freezing system for the 400 metre, partially covered ice rink, which is situated next to the sports hall. This system exclusively uses natural sources of cold. The application of CO2 as a source of cold provides substantial energy savings compared with regular freezing systems. Moreover, this source of cold is safe and its effect on the environment is as low as possible. The heat collection capacity is large and constant, meaning that the ice rink can be optimally prepared. Cofely invented a system whereby the remaining warmth from the ice rink is integrated into the LTES system of the power plant and is used for heating the buildings.
As well as for the sports hall and the ice rink, Cofely is also responsible for all the installations related to the buildings, such as the air treatment installations, the data installations, as well as the project management. For this, Cofely has used applications such as heat reclamation in the ventilation system and they have placed movement sensors for the light installations.
Energy and environmental efficiency in action
Nieuw-Stappegoor is an urban area that is characterised by its dynamism. This urban neighbourhood is a centre where residential accommodation, work, entertainment and study facilities come together in modern surroundings. The sustainable development of areas and energy savings are high on the agenda at the Municipality of Tilburg. They found a like-minded partner in Cofely for the design, supply and execution of this project. The multifunctional sports complex T-Kwadraat offers accommodation for an ice rink, a sports hall, a fitness centre, climbing facilities that boost the highest climbing wall in The Netherlands, a sports medical centre, various cafes, restaurants and business areas, as well as a crèche. A total contract price of 32.23 million euros was provided for this project to the consortium Sportplaza V.O.F., a collaboration between Cofely Zuid, Heerkens van Bavel Bouw B.V. and Remmers Bouwgroep B.V. Taking part of this energy efficiency realisation, Cofely continues to use the knowledge and experience gained in major projects such as Overhoeks, Oosterdokseiland and Mahler4 in Amsterdam for all new sustainable projects to be designed and executed.
Cofely, a GDF SUEZ Company
Cofely is part of GDF SUEZ Energy Services, the European leader in multitechnical services. GDF SUEZ Energy Services offers its customers in industry, services, and infrastructures made-to-measure solutions, whether in the fields of engineering, installations or energy services.
GDF SUEZ Energy Services employs 77,000 people and achieved revenues of € 14 billion in 2008.
GDF SUEZ Energy Services is a business line of GDF SUEZ, one of the leading energy providers in the world.
Press Contact:
Ingrid Clauwaert, Manager Public Relations
Cofely Nederland NV
Kosterijland 50, 3981 AJ Bunnik; Postbus 210, 3980 CE Bunnik
Tel: 00 31 30 656 94 59; fax: 030 656 94 15
e-mail: ingrid.clauwaert(at)cofely-gdfsuez.nl
