Warsaw metro

Cundall conducted a pioneering feasibility study to assess the potential of capturing waste heat from three Warsaw Metro stations and reintegrating it into the city’s district heating network. What makes this project unique is its innovative approach to harvesting residual energy from a public transport system - an emerging solution for sustainable urban development.

Our multi-disciplinary team performed a detailed energy assessment, modelling two technical scenarios using high-efficiency heat pump technology. These systems were evaluated for their performance in capturing heat from station air and feeding it into the district network. The study provided insights into analysis of the technical and logistic limitations of heat pumps and the metro itself, safety aspects, energy savings, system efficiency, and payback periods, laying the groundwork for low-carbon heating in cities.

Maciej Mackiewicz, Principal Mechanical Engineer, shared “This project showcased smart engineering at its best - transforming what was once wasted energy into a usable resource. We evaluated multiple technical routes and built a model that Warsaw could scale up, setting a new precedent for sustainable metro systems. This approach lays the foundation for the next generation of heating networks based on distributed heat sources – a more efficient solution for urban heating and potentially, for future cooling as well.”