19th WORLD CONFERENCE OF THE ASSOCIATED RESEARCH CENTRES FOR THE URBAN UNDERGROUND SPACE, Belgrade, Serbia, November 4-7, 2025. (Paper No: 3.9.29, pp. 543-550)
АУТОР(И) / AUTHOR(S): Ilkka Vähäaho, Matti Pentti
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DOI: 10.46793/ACUUS2025.3.9.29
САЖЕТАК / ABSTRACT:
Underground space is a resource for those functions that do not need to be on the surface. From the point of sustainability there are several benefits of locating technical maintenance systems underground such as expenses are shared by several users, land is released for other construction purposes, the city’s appearance and image are improved.
Electricity and heat differ from each other in terms of energy distribution. Electricity can be transmitted through extensive distribution networks over thousands of kilometres across national borders. Heat, on the other hand, is both produced and consumed in connection with the local or regional district heating network. Centralised heat production is represented by district heating, where heat is distributed to customers through hot water or steam flowing in underground pipes. Distribution networks typically cover individual cities and multiple industrial sites.
District heating is commonly used throughout Europe, with around 3 500 networks serving 60 million people. 75 % of production is covered by fossil fuels, so the need to reduce emissions is considerable. Existing large networks are located in the Nordic and Baltic countries and Eastern and Central Europe.
There are just a few Small Modular Reactor (SMR) projects in the world designed for heat production only. The Low-temperature District heating Reactor (LDR-50) technology by a Finnish technology company is based on well-known light water reactor technology. The goal is to commission the first underground plant based on small nuclear reactor technology to be connected to the district heating network in 2030. So far, several cities in Finland, Poland and Baltic countries have been investigated as possible locations for underground SMR plants.
КЉУЧНЕ РЕЧИ / KEYWORDS:
Cut and Cover, district heating, Drill and Blast, Small Modular Reactor, sustainability
ПРОЈЕКАТ / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
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