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Energy
Building
State-of-the-art district heating and cooling systems are paving the way for municipalities to reduce overall carbon emissions and to speed up the energy transition through the efficient distribution of heat and cold from renewable energy sources.
Affordable And Clean Energy
Industry, Innovation And Infrastructure
Sustainable Cities And Communities
Responsible Consumption And Production
Description
District heating and cooling systems distribute thermal energy in the form of steam, hot water, or chilled liquids, from central or decentralised sources of production through a network to multiple buildings or sites, for the use of space or process heating or cooling. For a lower environmental impact, a combination of recycled and renewable heat is the focus for district heating systems. Following the Paris Agreement in 2015 and the EU target to cut emissions by at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2030, there has been an increased effort from member states to foster district heating and cooling using alternative fuel sources and carbon-neutral heat-producing technologies. This transition is challenging as district heating supplies only 12% of the EU´s heat supply, with most of the energy produced from CHP plants powered by natural gas and solid fuels such as lignite.
Problems to be solved
Carbon emissions
Low-efficient heat supply
Fossil fuel dependency
GHG emissions
Benefits
Main benefits
Reducing GHG emissions
Reducing local air pollution
Potential benefits
Reducing use of fossils
Enhances grid stability
Shaving peak energy demand
Improving energy supply efficiency
Increasing share of renewables
Functions
Functions help you to understand what the products can do for you and which ones will help you achieve your goals.
Each solution has at least one mandatory function, which is needed to achieve the basic purpose of the solution, and several additional functions, which are features that can be added to provide additional benefits.
Mandatory functions
Operate with at least 32.5% energy efficiency
Minimum efficiency established by regional directives
Supply heating temperature between 80 and 120°C
Temperature range for an appropriate distribution and utilisation
Supply cooling temperature between 6 and 7°C
Temperature range for an appropriate distribution and utilisation
Connect decentral systems to district network
These systems must be capable to be incorporated into the city's DH network
Potential functions
Recover up to 40% of energy
Recovery of wasted thermal energy
Utilize renewable energy sources for heat and cooling production
To reduce energy production through fossil-fuels
Generate low-temperature District Heating supply
Reducing variable costs of heat and cooling energy production
Variants
Description
Carbon-neutral and low-carbon fuels such as biomass, waste, and biogas are becoming attractive alternatives for reducing the environmental impact of firing systems. Although these energy sources produce carbon emissions, they have life-cycle neutrality. Biomass energy is carbon neutral if growing the biomass removes as much CO2 as is emitted into the atmosphere from its combustion. Waste and biogas are recovered materials that would otherwise be disposed of.
Use Cases
Energy
Energy Efficient District Heating and DHW Retrofitting
Renovation of the whole district heating system to increase energy efficiency and reduce fossil fuel dependency.
Aiming to achieve a sustainable districts in Tepebasi through deep retrofitting, the improvements in building envelope's designs were implemented. Minimizing heat transfer through the building envelope is crucial for reducing the need for space heating and cooling.
The popularity of P2H plants is growing thanks to the increased installed capacity of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar PV energy. P2H plants harness generated renewable electricity and transform it into heat either by heating resistors, electrode boilers or heat pumps. For an effective integration of P2H, the ratio of renewable energy to fossil fuel production is to be considered. A higher installed capacity of renewable energy would favour a P2H plant's feasibility. P2H provides an alternative to Demand Side Management system. When there is excess electricity production from renewable sources, P2H plants are powered to produce heat.
Description
Solar thermal energy harnesses energy from the sun to generate thermal energy for use in industry, and in the residential and commercial sectors. In locations where there is high solar irradiance (annual GHI above 1000 kWh/m2), solar thermal plant installations are the most favourable. Nevertheless, in northern European countries such as Denmark (with annual GHI below 1000 kWh/m2) solar thermal energy contributes significantly to the district heating network. Solar thermal energy usually contributes up to 20% to the total heat supply, although including seasonal storage units can increase the percentage of heating that can be met by solar energy on an annual basis to 50% (SDH 2020). Large urban district heating networks typically source thermal energy from large-scale solar thermal plants. Solar thermal flat plate collectors are the most commonly installed systems.
Description
This variant of heat production was conceived for harnessing the thermal energy from pipes carrying the return flow from district cooling systems or sewage pipes. This is achieved by using a heat exchanger and a heat pump powered by solar PV panels, in which heat is recovered to produce hot water in residential buildings.
The feasibility of heat waste recovery is largely dependent on the levelised costs of heat for conventional heat production sources. These implementations carry high capital costs, so economic incentives are required to allow scaling up.
Use Cases
Energy
Sustainable District Cooling Solution that uses residual heat
A highly energy efficient district cooling system was installed in the densely populated city center of Tartu using the river cooled chillers. The system was made more energy efficient by Fortum, using a heat pump that reuses the residual heat from cooling system for the district heating system.
Low-temperature district heating is a heat supply technology for an efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective community supply. In comparison to conventional district heating, the network supply temperature is reduced down to approximately 50 °C or even less.
Use Cases
Energy
ICT
Low Temperature District Heating (LTDH) and Smart Controllers
Developing an efficient low temperature heating system out of the returning flow of a high temperature heat network.
The novel concept of cold district heating networks aims to combine the advantages of a centralised energy distribution system with low heat losses in the energy supply. This combined effect is achieved through the centralised supply of water at relatively low temperatures which is then heated up by decentralised heat pumps. These circulation pumps withdraw water from the warm line, use it in a heat pump to reach temperatures suitable for space heating and then discharge the cooled water to the cold line.
Description
Absorption chillers use the collection of waste heat from other processes or equipment to drive a thermodynamic process that allows water to be chilled and distributed for HVAC needs. Absorption chillers do not require the installation of a city-wide district cooling system. They must be installed close to a consistent stream of waste heat, such as near the effluent of an industrial plant or university campus.
Supporting Factors
Reduce market competition: Removal of subsidies and other incentives for fossil-based heating systems.
Access to capital: Provide demonstration projects, innovative funding, and debt guarantee mechanisms for the further development of large infrastructure projects in cities.
Citizen’s acceptance: The acceptance by local citizens needs to be raised by improving awareness and highlighting the advantages of district heating and cooling. Adequate citizen engagement activities, such as local information events, might be suitable tools to achieve approval.
Municipal support: Enabling access to roads and public land to build networks and heat sources. As well as ensuring municipal buildings are connected to the DH system.
Transparency: Data on local energy audits, research and development, and performance must be made available.
Pashing-out of fossil fuels: High tax on fossil fuels makes implementations, such as those presented under variants, competitive.
City Context
General requirements for the implementation of District Heating:
High heat load density: As heat networks are very capital intensive, the heated area has to be densely built to minimize the required pipe length
Economic viability: As a rule of thumb the heat load density for DH should be higher than 23MWh per metre of planned network length to be commercially viable
Location of building stock: The buildings to be connected to the DH networks should be close to the existing network to minimize the connection pipe length. This will reduce both investment and operational costs
Location of heat sources: Modern heat sources have high-quality flue gas cleaning systems. Therefore, subject to planning conditions, heat sources can be located near or in the centre of urban areas to minimize network length. The location of heat sources has to be agreed upon in advance
District heating has several land use requirements for its implementation:
It is very useful to develop a heat demand map, and a corresponding heat plan for a town or city to identify which areas are most suitable for DH, and which areas are best served by individual building systems
Heat sources should be close to the customer (economy) but should consider noise prevention and transportation logistics
Underground networks require space that is already partly occupied by other infrastructure: e.g. electricity, telecommunications, sewage, water
Possible booster pump stations
Fuel and ash transportation routes should minimize any harm and risk to the population
Government Initiatives
EU
1. RHC-ETIP
The European Technology and Innovation Platform on Renewable Heating & Cooling (RHC-ETIP) brings together stakeholders from the biomass, geothermal, solar thermal and heat pump sectors – including the related industries such as district heating and cooling, thermal energy storage, and hybrid systems – to define a common strategy for increasing the use of renewable energy technologies for heating and cooling.
2. International Energy Agency (IEA)
The Technology Collaboration Programme on District Heating and Cooling including Combined Heat and Power[JH1], deals with the design, performance and operation of distribution systems and consumer installations. The Agreement is dedicated to helping to make district heating and cooling and combined heat and power powerful tools for energy conservation and the reduction of environmental impacts of supplying heat. The programme offers a platform for online reports and an exchange of best practices.
UK
1. The Heat Networks Delivery Unit (HNDU)
The Heat Networks Delivery Unit was established in 2013 to address the capacity and capability challenges which local authorities identified as barriers to heat network deployment in the UK. The Unit provides funding and specialist guidance to local authorities who are developing heat network projects.
2. Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP)
The Heat Networks Investment Project is delivering £320 million of capital investment support to increase the volume of heat networks built, deliver carbon savings for carbon budgets, and help create the conditions for a sustainable market that can operate without direct government subsidy. The pilot phase of the Heat Networks Investment Project ran for 6 months and awarded £24 million to 9 successful Local Authority projects in March 2017.
Stakeholder Mapping
Stakeholder Map for a district heating or cooling system (BABLE,2021)
Value Model
The following list of benefits are accompanied by an importance ranking. A value of one, translates to high importance.
Value model for a district heating or cooling system (BABLE, 2021)
The creation of this solution has been supported by EU funding
Use Cases
Energy
ICT
Demand side management in district heating network
Commercial building reduces its heating demand to avoid firing up fossil fuel-based plants during the peak demand hours.
In former cotton mill rental areas, a smart heat management system employs intelligent thermostats connected to a local energy management system, allowing tenants to control heating through a mobile app and reduce heat-related emissions by automatically turning off heat supply in unused areas.
In a bid to promote sustainable travel behaviour to businesses, schools and residents, the borough installed solar ground lighting to their network of shared-use footpaths, to facilitate year round access to cyclists, pedestrians and mobility impaired people.
Decarbonisation Pathways for District Heating Grids
Leipzig University supports the decision making of LSW by a model-based analysis. The overall aim is to find pathways for increasing the district heating supply in “Leipzig West” and the share of renewable energies and use of waste heat in Leipzig district heating system in the future.
Within the GrowSmarter project."Smart local thermal districts" is part of the building refurbishment in Ca l’Alier, which combines on-site electricity generation (PVs) with the local existing DHC network, reducing the consumption of fossil primary energy for heating and cooling production.
Sustainable District Cooling Solution that uses residual heat
A highly energy efficient district cooling system was installed in the densely populated city center of Tartu using the river cooled chillers. The system was made more energy efficient by Fortum, using a heat pump that reuses the residual heat from cooling system for the district heating system.
Open District Heating for Sustainable Heat Recovery
This Open District Heating aims to recover waste heat to the existing DH network by developing an innovative business model for plug and play heat pumps and contracts where the DH provider buys waste heat from local sources like data centres and supermarkets.
Approximately one-quarter of the energy price is owed by the transportation of the energy. The implementation of a local energy system can shift the energy production from a centralised system to a decentralised system.
Microgrids are emerging as an attractive, viable solution for cities, utilities, and firms to meet the energy needs of communities by leveraging more sustainable resources, while increasing resilience, reducing emissions, and achieving broader policy or corporate goals.
The global amount of waste produced is steadily rising. With the amount of waste, the importance of an efficient processing of waste grows. Intelligent waste logistic covers the waste chain from the pick-up of the waste at the inhabitants' place to the processing of recycling and destruction.
According to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), buildings are responsible for approximately 40% of energy consumption and 36% of CO2 emissions in the EU.
The supply of energy to households, public buildings and services accounts for the majority of GHG emissions in the majority of municipalities. Municipal Energy Saving Systems represent punctual solutions to optimise energy consumption.