In the media: Ecovat built in Uden

EcovatIn the media

Press Release from the City of Uden on May 27, 2014

Opposite the zero energy office at the Loopkantstraat 7 in Uden, an Ecovat ® will be constructed into the ground. An Ecovat is an innovative subterranean heat storage system with extremely good heat insulation capacity. The energy which is generated during the summer can be stored and used in the winter. The Ecovat will be connected to the office, and the operation of the storage barrel will be tested and optimized. The municipality finds this to be a good sustainable and innovative initiative that fits the ambition to be “Leader in sustainability” and therefore facilitates the provision of the construction site.

Ecovat
The building system is based on a container-in-container, and basically consists of a heat buffer. It has a modular structure in the different wall sections and a system for energy exchange. The modular construction, heat exchange and control software in Ecovat have been granted a patent. An important component of the system are the “Ecovat wall parts.” These are made in Ecovat’s own workshop in Uden. The system is completely located underground beneath the town park. The “barrel” is open at the bottom and aims to maintain the groundwater level.

Experiment
The prototype serves as a laboratory where interested parties such as investors, other municipalities, universities and foreign parties can see how the Energy storage system works. The parties involved are the TU/e, Wageningen UR, University of Twente, Has Den Bosch and Saxion Hogeschool Enschede.

The current development and demonstration phase is intended to demonstrate how the system works and how big is the return is to market parties. Investors in the demonstration project in Uden can see for themselves what the system can do in their own situation.

After the testing and optimization phase Ecovat ® energy storage system is ready for the market. The energy storage system is ideal for greenhouses and sustainable cultivation, but can also be used for schools, nursing homes, offices or entire neighborhoods.