Every day hundreds of millions of cubic meters of water is pumped to/from our cities and polders to maintain dry and green pastures. This results in a constant battle to manage surface water quality. Controlling blue algae scum and botulism in virtually stagnant water is high on the agenda. Water management requires a lot of energy. The question is how we can manage water while at the same time produce renewable energy?
The difference in surface water temperature between different seasons can be used to heat or cool buildings by combining currently available techniques. These techniques allow a surface water pumping station dedicated to water management to become a power station for renewable energy. The extraction of heat from surface water also generates positive effects on water quality and prevents urban heat stress, botulism and blue algae. Furthermore, by acting on rain forecasts and monitoring water levels, water management can be powered by cheap renewable energy and thus even help balance the grid. The Smart Polder as envisaged by Delta Technology is an intelligent network of energy neutral clean water pumping stations for climate-proof cities. It is part of the solution to create sustainable and safe deltas around the world.
