Photo: Stig Stasig

Energy specialist with innovative genes 

Electricity from biomass and underground energy storage: COWI's Project Manager, Reto M. Hummelshøj, draws on more than 25 years' experience and lashings of creativity when developing new alternative energy solutions.
For the first time in Denmark a special technique is being tested to store the chill of the winter, in a cold storage 20-30 metres below the ground.

This is done at DRByen, Danish Broadcasting's new media house, where the cold ground water will be used to lower the temperature in offices and studios during the summer months.

The man behind this alternative is Mr. Reto M. Hummelshøj, who, at the beginning of the eighties, also helped to develop a 10,000 m2 solar-powered refrigeration unit in Bagdad - the largest of its kind in the world.

Biomass to produce electricity

Reto M. Hummelshøj has also created energy solutions for improved energy utilisation from animal waste and biomass for production of heat and electricity, as well as thermo active concrete panels with embedded pipes used for intermediate energy storage and combined space heating and cooling.
Photo: Stig Stasig


Ideas for new solutions come to Reto M. Hummelshøj at any time and in any place: perhaps at a conference, when travelling by train with colleagues, or during lively discussions with business partners. For him, professional dedication and surplus of personal energy are key ingredients in the creative process.

New realisations – new solutions

"I think the innovative gene is something that runs in our family," says Reto M. Hummelshøj. “As a child I was always asking questions, and if the reply I got was short or something along the lines of 'that's-just-the-way-it's-done', I could never accept it. I think people should try to find out whether things can be done differently and better. And the same applies today. Asking sometimes provocative questions to different specialists often bring about new realisations, and consequently, new solutions."

Over the last 25 years Reto M. Hummelshøj has participated in a number of development projects and these have given him a very broad knowledge of the energy sector. With such wide ranging professional expertise in energy efficiency, sustainable energy, energy technologies and technical analyses in the building and energy sector, it is not surprising that his knowledge has also lead to granted patents.

New challenges

Today the market is demanding new types of projects and new energy concepts that combine energy efficiency on the consumer side with local supplies of sustainable energy, typically to larger buildings and urban areas. One example of this is the ECO-City project, which is part of the large EU Concerto initiative. In this project interdisciplinary teams form 23 organisations work together to develop sustainable settlements and energy supply in four European cities

"Since a decision was taken to implement an EU directive, a series of initiatives and procedures to reduce energy consumption in the building sector has been initiated, and we now need to develop total solutions and optimise the interaction between energy supplies and high energy efficiency at all levels. In the ECO-City project we are testing a number of new solutions which will set the standard for normal practice within five to ten years," says Reto M. Hummelshøj.

By Christina Tækker, cht@cowi.com  

Published: 1.2.2006