Valencia has set out to revamp the way it manages its urban resources and is studying how to transform the low-pressure water distribution network in a new thermal energy source for buildingsThe idea is to harness the heat contained in the water already circulating in the city to power air conditioning and hot water production systems without the need to build large infrastructures.
This line of work, framed within the project AIGUATERMThis positions Valencia as an urban laboratory where energy efficiency solutions are tested under real-world conditions. The goal is to determine the extent to which this existing infrastructure can help reduce energy consumption. heating, cooling and domestic hot water in public and private buildings.
A pioneering project to harness the heat from urban water
The investigation is being led by ITACA group of the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV)In collaboration with Emivasa, the water cycle management company, both entities are working together to evaluate the thermal potential of the water flowing through the low-pressure urban network and to study how to integrate it into heat pump systems existing or newly implemented in buildings.
The project has the financial backing of Valencian Innovation Agency (AVI)This funding supports this R&D project focused on the energy transition and the decarbonization of the building stock. Public funding allows for both the technical analysis and the evaluation of potential implementation scenarios in the city.
In practical terms, the work focuses on measuring the thermal energy available in mains water and determining how it can be reliably and safely transferred to heating and cooling systems. The following are studied: technical, energy and hydraulic aspects to ensure that the use of heat does not affect the normal operation of the drinking water supply.
According to the team leaders, one of the great advantages of this proposal is that it relies on infrastructures already operationalThis would allow, if feasible, for minimizing the construction work and costs associated with installing new energy systems. The aim is not to build a parallel network, but to make the most of the existing one beneath the streets.
Energy efficiency without major construction or new networks
AIGUATERM's approach is based on the idea that the urban water network can function as a heat exchangerThe water circulating through the pipes maintains relatively stable temperatures throughout the year, making it an interesting source for powering high-efficiency heat pumps in buildings.
In winter, the system could use the water temperature to support the heating and domestic hot water supplyIn summer, it would serve as a cooling aid, allowing heat to be dissipated into the network under controlled conditions. All of this is done while ensuring that the drinking water service maintains its quality and safety standards.
The research analyzes how to connect these networks to building air conditioning equipment using heat exchangers and secondary circuits, preventing any direct contact between drinking water and the fluids in the heating systems. This separation is key to complying with health regulations and preserving water quality.
In addition to the purely technical aspects, the team is studying the impact this would have on the network's hydraulic behavior, evaluating flow rates, pressures, and potential limitations. The idea is that the thermal energy recovery will be compatible with normal operation of the distribution system, without causing performance losses or supply incidents.
This entire approach allows us to propose an energy efficiency solution that, on paper, could be deployed with much less invasive interventions than other alternatives based on urban construction or cooling.
Application in public and private buildings with high energy demand
An important part of the project involves identifying strategic locations in Valencia where the implementation of this technology could be particularly beneficial. Not all buildings have the same needs or the same network connectivity options, so the study focuses on those cases with the greatest potential for savings.
Among the spaces analyzed are municipal buildings, schools and sports facilities with high energy consumption. These properties tend to be in heavy use throughout the year and concentrate a large part of their demand on heating and hot water, making them good candidates for testing innovative solutions.
The objective is to prioritize those pilot projects in which the implementation of systems connected to the urban water network allows achieving a greater impact in terms of reduced consumption and emissionsBased on these case studies, replicable models could be defined for other parts of the city or even other locations.
The initiative is not limited to the public sector. The research team is also considering its potential application in private buildingsThis is especially true for buildings with significant heating and cooling demands, such as large residential complexes, shopping centers, or office buildings. In these cases, the key will be the technical and economic feasibility of connecting to the grid.
To facilitate this evaluation, the project is working on the development of selection criteria and analysis tools that allow administrations and property managers to assess whether this solution can fit into their facilities and under what conditions.
Institutional collaboration and commitment to urban innovation
The development of AIGUATERM is the result of a close collaboration between the Valencia City Council, the UPV and EmivasaThis public-academic-business alliance, which combines technical, management, and urban planning capabilities, aims to accelerate the adoption of innovative solutions within the city's urban fabric.
The councilor for the Integrated Water Cycle, Carlos MundinaHe has visited the research facilities on several occasions to learn firsthand about the progress and closely monitor the project. During these visits, the councilor has been able to observe the different technological solutions the team is evaluating.
Those directly responsible for the investigation include Javier UrchueguÃa, from the ITACA group, along with other team members who work on modeling, data analysis, and the design of possible system configurations. Their work focuses on both the scientific aspects and potential practical applications in the city.
The entities involved agree that this experience positions Valencia as a applied innovation environmentwhere prototypes are not only developed in the laboratory, but also tested under real-world conditions on existing infrastructure. This approach allows for results that are more closely aligned with urban realities and reduces the gap between research and implementation.
From a political and strategic point of view, the City Council sees these types of projects as a tool to move towards more efficient and sustainable urban models, aligned with the objectives of energy transition, emissions reduction and adaptation to climate change set at European level.
Towards smarter energy management in cities
Beyond the specific case of Valencia, the line of research opened by AIGUATERM raises a change of perspective in urban energy managementInstead of building new infrastructure from scratch, the focus is on exploring how to intelligently leverage existing networks in cities, such as water networks, to address current energy challenges.
This approach fits with European strategies that promote the decarbonization of the building sector and the integration of high-efficiency thermal solutions, such as heat pumps connected to renewable or residual sourcesThe use of the water network as thermal support is in addition to other options being studied in different European cities, such as the use of wastewater or subway networks.
In the Valencian case, the investigation focuses on water from low pressure intended for supplyThis necessitates special attention to water security and health regulations. For this reason, the project dedicates a significant portion of its efforts to ensuring that any proposed thermal energy use complies with water quality standards and service reliability.
If the results confirm its technical and economic feasibility, this solution could be integrated as another component within a diversified urban energy strategy, in which different renewable energy sources and heat recovery systems coexist. The combination of various technologies would reduce dependence on fossil fuels and improve the resilience of cities to energy crises or extreme weather events.
These types of projects, their managers emphasize, not only provide technological advances, but also contribute to rethinking the role of urban infrastructure, which cease to be static elements to become multifunctional assets capable of providing several services at once.
Taken together, the initiative led by the ITACA group, Emivasa and the Valencia City Council outlines a scenario in which the urban water network It could play a relevant role in building climate control, opening an additional way to improve energy efficiency without major construction and reinforcing the vision of the city as a space of continuous innovation in sustainability.
