The Australian War Memorial (AWM) is delivering the largest closed loop underground geothermal technology heating and cooling system in Australia as part of its current development and expansion project.
A major green energy project, the geothermal system boasts 128 kilometres of pipe and up to 320 vertical closed loop boreholes, drilled up to 150 metres deep.
A joint design collaboration between NDY and GeoExchange Australia, it will dramatically reduce the memorial’s energy costs and greenhouse gases, using the latest technology to harness the ground’s temperature and thermal potential.
NDY was responsible for the specialised heating and cooling plant connected to the geothermal system, which enables the central plant to be fully electrified and fossil fuel-free. The result is a 100% renewable energy cooling and heating plant.
The geothermal system has been designed to cope with water temperatures ranging from -1°C to 39°C, whilst simultaneously improving energy efficiency by over 60% compared to conventional plant. Implementing this for the district cooling and heating system serving the AWM site has allowed connected buildings to benefit from these improvements.
The Director of the AWM, Matt Anderson, says “the Australian War Memorial is tapping into renewable thermal energy stored in the ground. We will use the earth’s temperature to heat and cool, unlocking sustainable ways to provide a comfortable environment for our visitors and for the protection of the national collection.
“In a place that commemorates the past, this project firmly places the Australian War Memorial as a world-class building of the future.”
NDY is delivering ongoing consulting engineering services and setting the sustainability strategy across the nationally significant AWM project, providing tangible outcomes for the Memorial and the community.
