The Piscina e Palestra Kennedy sports complex, located in the Municipality of Bologna (Italy), has recently completed a major energy refurbishment project, transforming the building into a model of sustainability and innovation in plant engineering. As part of this project, Daikin contributed by supplying two air-cooled EWYT-B- air-to-water heat pumps using R-32 refrigerant, forming the core of the complex’s new energy system.
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The project
The intervention involved the complete conversion of the system to a full-electric configuration, with the permanent phase-out of natural gas and the adoption of technological solutions aligned with the latest decarbonization criteria. The refurbishment went beyond a simple equipment upgrade; it represented a true paradigm shift in the facility’s energy management, focusing on efficiency, safety, and emissions reduction.
In this context, Daikin was selected for its expertise in the HVAC sector and its ability to deliver reliable, high-performance solutions. The installed EWYT-B- units were specifically designed to meet the complex demands of a sports facility featuring indoor swimming pools and gym areas characterised by continuous operation and high thermal loads.
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Project challenges and the Daikin solution
The complex's energy requirements were particularly demanding. The system needed to ensure space heating for the pool areas and their changing rooms, as well as for the basketball and volleyball gym and its auxiliary spaces. In addition, it had to maintain a constant water temperature in both the main and children’s pools. These needs were complemented by domestic hot water production and the supply of thermal fluids to the air-handling units, which are essential to ensure comfort and proper indoor air quality in high-humidity environments such as swimming facilities.
The heat pumps were primarily sized for heating production, with a total capacity of approximately 453 kW, sufficient to meet the entire sports complex's thermal demand. The choice of the EWYT-B- model was driven by both environmental and technical considerations. The use of R-32 refrigerant, which has a lower environmental impact than traditional refrigerants, significantly reduces indirect CO₂ emissions and improves the project's overall sustainability.
From a technical standpoint, the units are equipped with continuous fan speed modulation, enabling precise airflow control and optimised condensing temperature. This results in high operational efficiency, which is particularly advantageous in applications that predominantly operate in heating mode, such as the Piscina e Palestra Kennedy.
Results
The project successfully achieved its objectives. The decommissioning of the existing natural gas boiler plant marked a fundamental step, not only in reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also in improving overall system safety. The high efficiency of the heat pumps also enabled the client to access incentives under the Italian “Conto Termico 3.0” scheme, making the investment economically sustainable.
Thanks to this refurbishment, the Piscina e Palestra Kennedy now stands as a concrete example of innovation in the sports sector, where energy efficiency, advanced technology, and environmental responsibility converge into an integrated and future-oriented solution.