IF Technology has developed the Surface water energy (SWE) concept). SWE combines a number of existing technologies in innovative ways: a sustainable heat supply is linked to surface water quality improvement through active water management. The heat in surface water is used as a primary energy source for building heating and domestic hot water by means of a heat pump. The summer heat from the surface water is stored in the soil by an aquifer terminal storage  system (ATES) for the cold winter months. In autumn and spring, the heat from the surface water is used immediately.

Surface water is heated up do through global warming, this results in water quality problems as botulism, algae and fish mortality. The cooling of surface water by using SWE has positive effects on the water quality. Cooling the surface water inhibits the development of algae and botulism. An additional advantage is that colder water can absorb more oxygen. If the outlet of the SWE- system is implemented as a waterfall, the water takes in even more oxygen. The outflow of cooled surface water also creates movement in static surface water in new urban areas and old city canals as Amsterdam, which stops the formation of botulism and problematic volumes of algae.

Problems for the water intake with algae, mussel fouling and blockages are resolved by experiences from different realized projects and combining existing techniques from drinking water production, industry and shipping.

The business case in which SWE is compared with gas heated homes an traditional ATES systems shows the relation of all equations:
• lower investment costs;
• lower operating costs;
• shorter payback;
• better suitability;
And significantly lower CO2 emissions.
The SWE concept is a source of renewable energy that is available almost everywhere in the world and by applying results in improved surface water quality. 

More information about SWE