Heat energy is being harnessed from visitors to the SWG3 venue in Glasgow.
After three years of development, SWG3 is using the BODYHEAT system, a thermal heating and cooling system that uses body heat from visitors to the venue. For the launch event, guests were invited to take part in a rendition of the famous Slosh line dance, with the heat that was generated being used to heat and cool the venue in the days and weeks to come.
From club and gig-goers, to guests attending exhibitions, workshops or any other events being hosted by SWG3, the new system is now active and ready to capture the heat emitted from all of the venue’s visitors. The energy will then be stored across 12 underground boreholes, before being used to heat or cool the venue later, whether it be the next day, the next month or the next year.BODYHEAT is an integral part in SWG3’s sustainability focused masterplan, with the aim to become net zero.
Andrew Fleming-Brown, MD of SWG3, said:
We’re thrilled that after three years of planning, consultation and construction, we are able to switch on the first BODYHEAT system . As well as being a huge step towards our goal of becoming net zero and will hopefully influence others from our industry and beyond to follow suit, working together to tackle climate change.
Heat is transported using a carrier fluid through a closed network of pipes to heat pumps in the plant room, before going 200m underground to the boreholes to be stored. When the energy is ready to be used, it travels back to the heat pumps where it is upgraded to a suitable temperature and emitted back into SWG3’s event spaces. The system is active across three separate spaces – a 1250-person capacity event space, a 1000-person event space and the main foyer entrance. One of the heat pumps can even provide simultaneous heating and cooling, meaning body heat can be captured live during an event, and instantly be delivered to the foyer where it can be used to provide heat and maintain a desired temperature.
BODYHEAT has been made possible with support through the Scottish Government: Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme and District Heating Loan Fund (managed by Energy Saving Trust); William Grant Foundation and UK Community Renewal Fund.
The whole TownRock team and I are delighted that the first BODYHEAT system is now up and running at SWG3. A huge congratulations and thank you to our partners Harley Haddow, all the contractors who constructed the system, and the Scottish Government for the funding. We’re ready for all of you to come dance for the planet – make renewable heat with every beat!
