SWG3 BODYHEAT: The Club Heated by Ravers Themselves
· re:union Radio editorial · 3 min read
SWG3 in Glasgow uses BODYHEAT to store the crowd's body heat in the ground and later use it to heat the club. This is what future club tech looks like.
At Glasgow's SWG3 club, your sweat on the dancefloor becomes the heating: The BODYHEAT system captures the excess heat from guests, stores it in the ground, and retrieves it later to heat the venue. According to planning office TownRock Energy, a single Black Traffic techno night generated enough heat for 47 households in just a few hours. If you're talking about the club of the future, you should start here – not with avatars and holograms.
At a glance
- SWG3 is an arts and music venue in Glasgow with capacity for 6,000 people.
- BODYHEAT uses ground-source heat pumps to store excess heat from the audience in the ground.
- The system was switched on in 2022; since 2021, SWG3 has purchased 100 percent renewable electricity.
How Dancing Becomes Heat
A full floor primarily generates one thing: heat. Normally, it's pumped outside with air conditioning and lost. BODYHEAT instead connects SWG3's cooling and heating needs with ground-source heat pumps. The excess heat from guests goes underground and is retrieved at other times to heat the building.
The principle is simple, but the implementation was not. TownRock Energy conducted a feasibility study from October to November 2020, then a business case of investor quality, and secured funding. The project was officially presented in November 2021 at the COP26 World Climate Conference.
BODYHEAT in Numbers
| Location | SWG3, Glasgow (Scotland) |
|---|---|
| Venue Capacity | 6,000 people |
| Technology | Ground-source heat pumps with underground heat storage |
| Planning | TownRock Energy |
| Feasibility Study | October to November 2020 |
| Official Presentation | COP26, November 2021 |
| In Operation Since | 2022 |
| Record Night | Heat for 47 households in a few hours (Black Traffic Techno) |
Why Techno Nights Matter Most
After almost three years of operation, BODYHEAT stores more heat than SWG3 itself needs. TownRock sees this as an opportunity to expand the system and supply other buildings – the planned Kastle Hotel on the same street is being discussed. The biggest surge in data came from a techno night, of all things: The cooling demand shot up so sharply during the Black Traffic event that TownRock's Senior Geothermal Engineer Leah features it in her presentation on the two-year BODYHEAT update.
“we’ve created an opportunity for people to help the planet whilst doing something they love.”
— David, CEO of TownRock Energy, in the TownRock blog
What Else SWG3 Is Changing
BODYHEAT is part of a larger plan. Since 2023, reusable cups have been available at the bars. According to SWG3's own statements, the largest part of the venue's CO₂ footprint is not generated in the building itself, but by the arrival of audience and staff – a reason why SWG3 sees the expansion of BODYHEAT as just one component among several.
The scene in Berlin is also working on this. The Clubtopia project by BUND Berlin and clubliebe e.V. offers energy consultations for clubs, the annually updated “Green Club Guide,” and the free online training “Green Club Training.” With “Zukunft Feiern!” (Celebrating the Future!), club operators have developed a Code of Conduct for sustainable club culture. You can read which Berlin venues stand for hard sound in our overview Techno Clubs in Berlin: The Best Locations for Dark & Hard Techno.
FAQ
How does BODYHEAT work at SWG3?
Ground-source heat pumps absorb the audience's excess heat, store it in the ground, and retrieve it at other times to heat the venue.
How long has the system been running?
SWG3 switched on BODYHEAT in 2022. The project was presented in November 2021 at COP26.
Is there anything similar in Germany?
In Berlin, Clubtopia supports clubs with energy consultations, the Green Club Guide, and the “Zukunft Feiern!” Code of Conduct for climate-friendly operation. Our article Techno Festivals in Autumn 2026: The Highlights shows where you can party in autumn.
Source: TownRock Energy – SWG3 BODYHEAT, TownRock Energy – From Techno to Tanzania, SWG3 – Sustainability, Clubtopia
