A new research collaboration is seeking to develop practical and scalable solutions to reduce the energy consumption for cooling in major cities by up to 30%.
The Sustainable Water-based Cooling in Megacities (SWiM) initiative, which brings together Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, Aalborg University and Aarhus University in Denmark, alongside industry partner Grundfos, has been launched in response to a projected tripling in demand for cooling solutions by 2050, particularly in cities with populations of more than ten million.
It will explore the development of intelligent, sustainable cooling systems, largely powered by renewable energy, to minimise carbon emissions.
Industry partner
Grundfos, a specialist in energy-efficient water solutions, is partnering with the universities to co-develop solutions that can reduce emissions and operating costs, which in turn can be embedded into urban energy planning. Bent Jensen, the company’s EVP and divisional CEO of Commercial Building Services, described the collaboration as part of the company’s DNA.
“With this collaboration we want to create cooling technologies that not only optimise energy consumption in the lab but also work in real-life settings,” he said. “We see huge potential in combining Grundfos’ technological expertise and know-how with the cutting-edge research of these prestigious universities.
“We look forward to strengthening connections between Singapore and Denmark, as well as fostering cooperation between academic institutions and industry.”
Additional partners
The parties hope that other industry partners will join the SWiM project, with the aim of accelerating the commercialisation of new cooling technologies.
“We believe we can accomplish even more by collaborating with our university partners as well as industry partners, who share our passion for sustainability and solutions that can reduce the impact of climate change,” Jensen added.
Elsewhere, Professor Madhavi Srinivasan, executive director of the Energy Research Institute at NTU, noted that the combination of the university’s research expertise with industry leadership will “help advance innovative water-based cooling solutions that improve energy efficiency and support more sustainable urban development in tropical megacities.”
Singapore has set a target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, with Denmark aiming to achieve climate neutrality by 2045. The SWiM research initiative is funded by a $9.4 million grant from the Grundfos Foundation. Read more here.
