The Grundfos sustainable cooling systems megacities initiative is advancing through a new international research collaboration aimed at reducing the energy demand of urban cooling systems.
Grundfos has joined the Sustainable Water-based Cooling in Megacities (SWiM) project, working alongside Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, Aalborg University and Aarhus University to develop more efficient, scalable cooling solutions.
Rising cooling demand linked to climate and urban growth
Demand for cooling in cities is increasing rapidly as global temperatures rise and urban populations expand. Cooling demand is expected to more than triple by 2050, particularly in megacities where population density and heat intensity are highest.
Conventional cooling systems are energy-intensive and contribute significantly to carbon emissions, creating a feedback loop that further accelerates climate change.
The SWiM project aims to address this challenge by developing water-based cooling systems that can operate more efficiently and integrate with renewable energy sources.
Water-based systems targeting energy reduction
The Grundfos sustainable cooling systems megacities collaboration focuses on designing systems capable of reducing energy consumption for cooling in major urban areas by up to 30%.
Water-based cooling technologies use the thermal properties of water to transfer and dissipate heat more efficiently than air-based systems, offering potential improvements in both energy use and system performance.
The project is also focused on ensuring that technologies developed in research environments can be implemented in real-world conditions, with scalability and operational practicality as key considerations.
What Grundfos sustainable cooling systems megacities means for water and energy systems
The Grundfos sustainable cooling systems megacities initiative reflects the growing importance of the water-energy nexus in urban infrastructure planning.
Cooling systems are becoming one of the largest drivers of electricity demand in cities, particularly in warmer climates. Integrating water-based solutions with renewable energy offers a pathway to reducing both energy consumption and associated emissions.
Water plays a critical role in thermal management due to its high heat capacity, making it an effective medium for transferring and storing energy. As a result, water-based cooling systems are increasingly being explored as part of sustainable urban development strategies.
Collaboration between industry and academia is also becoming more central to innovation in this space, helping to accelerate the transition from research to deployable solutions.
International collaboration to accelerate innovation
The SWiM project brings together research institutions and industry partners across Singapore and Denmark, combining academic expertise with practical engineering experience.
Participants aim to develop technologies that are not only efficient but also commercially viable and adaptable to a wide range of urban environments.
There is also an open call for additional industry partners to contribute to the initiative, with the goal of broadening perspectives and accelerating development.
As cities continue to adapt to climate pressures, collaborative approaches such as this are expected to play a key role in shaping future cooling infrastructure.
