Organisation
Preparatory Work for Thermal Energy Storage (TES) at Doelenzijde in April
All buildings on the Humanities Campus will be sustainably heated and cooled in the future using a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system. The Herta Mohr building has already been connected to this system. This year, work will begin to connect the buildings on the Doelenzijde to the TES network. Starting 10 April, preparatory work will take place over a period of four weeks on the public roads near various buildings of the Faculty of Humanities.
Trial Trenches
From 10 April, trial trenches will be dug at several locations on the public roads near the Arsenaal, Reuvens, Lipsius, and Huizinga buildings. These are narrow, temporary trenches in Arsenaalstraat, Sebastiaansdoelen, Cleveringaplaats, Paterstraatje, and Doelensteeg, allowing the contractor to verify the exact location of underground cables and pipelines. This is necessary to ensure that the subsequent installation of the TES system later this year can be carried out safely and efficiently. Each trench will cover only a small section of the road and will be refilled once the inspection is complete.
The excavation of the trial trenches is expected to cause minimal noise disturbance. Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use the roads, although cyclists will have to dismount at certain locations. Some streets in the Doelenzijde area will be temporarily less accessible for motor vehicles, which will be clearly indicated with signage.
TES Installation Timeline
The main installation work for the TES system is currently scheduled to begin between mid and late 2025. The entire process is expected to take more than a year to complete. Work will be carried out in phases across the Doelenzijde area. Increased noise and accessibility issues are expected at certain times. The project will involve drilling thermal wells at various buildings on the Humanities Campus, laying pipelines in the surrounding streets, and carrying out internal modifications in some buildings to facilitate the TES connection.
Once more details about the precise schedule are available, we will inform staff, students, and local residents in good time.
For any questions about these works or the Humanities Campus in general, please email hc-info@hum.leidenuniv.nl.
What is TES?
Thermal Energy Storage (TES) is a sustainable energy system that utilises groundwater as a medium for energy storage. The system works by storing heat in the ground during the summer for use in winter, and vice versa. This is achieved through underground wells where thermal energy is stored and retrieved as needed. The result is a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions and energy consumption, contributing to a more sustainable campus.