Heat pumps provide Pompidou Centre savings

FRANCE: Dalkia expects to reduce energy consumption of the Pompidou Centre in Paris by more than 20% following the installation of 13 air-to-air roof mounted heat pumps.

Built in 1977, the Pompidou Centre is Europe’s largest modern art gallery with nearly five million visitors per year.

Dalkia, the French energy service company, has been a partner from the early days of the construction phase of the Pompidou Centre and has since been in charge of the operation and maintenance of the entire building’s air conditioning systems. Heat is provided to the Centre by the Paris district heating network and cold being produced by the Pompidou Centre’s chillers.

The building has been undergoing a modernisation process of its heating and cooling facilities since 2012. As part of a €30m contract, Dalkia has replaced 13 air handling units on the roof of the building with air-source heat pumps.

The modernisation process was phased over a 41 month period to prevent damage to the exhibition artefacts and maintain full public access. The work was completed in April last year.

The operation of the new equipment is projected to reduce energy consumption by over 20% and avoid the release of 500 tons of CO2 per year.