China's First Project Using Reclaimed Water for Urban Heat Supply Networks Kicks Off

Recently, the project named “Huaneng Beijing Power Plant Heat Supply Network Return Water Reclaimed Water Source Heat Pump Supplementary Heating”, constructed by UCD’s subsidiary Beijing Urban Construction Exploration & Surveying Design Research Institute Co., Ltd under the EPC model, was officially launched. It is a pioneering project in China, marking that reclaimed water has been used as a heat source to provide supplementary heating for urban heat supply networks for the first time. Also, it represents a milestone breakthrough in new energy heating.

Located at Guangqu Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, the project treats reclaimed water from the Gaobeidian Reclaimed Water Plant as its heat source. A water source heat pump system is employed to extract waste heat from reclaimed water to provide supplementary heating for the return water of Huaneng Beijing Power Plant’s primary heating network. Supplementary heating is then fed into the municipal heating pipe network for heating. After putting into operation, it is estimated to reduce annual natural gas consumption by 10 million cubic meters, cut carbon dioxide emissions by 23,000 tonnes, sulfur dioxide by 190 tonnes, and particulate matter by 90 tonnes. The project will advance the green transformation of Beijing’s heating network and its energy structure, establish a new, replicable model for urban energy transition towards green and low-carbon development, and accumulate significant practices for diversifying Beijing's energy structure and enhancing its sustainability.

As the EPC contractor, Beijing Urban Construction Exploration & Surveying Design Research Institute Co., Ltd takes charge of all civil construction and equipment installation, with the scope covering both the Gaobeidian Water Reclamation Plant and Huaneng Beijing Power Plant. The project is scheduled to be in service in November 2025.