District Heating Expansion Potential with Low-Temperature and End-Use Heat Savings

Steffen Nielsen and Lars Grundahl
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Steffen Nielsen: Department of Development and Planning, Aalborg University, Rendsburggade 14, DK-9000 Aalborg, Denmark
Lars Grundahl: Department of Development and Planning, Aalborg University, A. C. Meyers Vænge 15, DK-2450 København SV, Denmark

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 2, 1-17

Abstract: District heating has the potential to play a key role in the transition towards a renewable energy system. However, the development towards reduced heat demands threatens the feasibility of district heating. Despite this challenge, opportunity exists in the form of fourth generation district heating, which operates at lower temperatures and enables better renewable integration. This article investigates this challenge by examining the district heating potential within three scenarios: The first is a reference scenario with current heat demand and temperatures, the second includes heat demand savings and the third includes reduced grid temperatures in addition to heat savings. To examine the scenarios, two models are developed. The first is a heat atlas model, in which heat demands are mapped on an address level. The second model assesses district heating expansion potentials based on economic costs. The models are applied using an example case of The Northern Region of Denmark. The article concludes that the district heating potential is highest in the reference scenario. When heat savings are introduced, district heating expansions, in most cases, will not be feasible. Introducing low-temperature district heating modestly increases the feasible expansion potential. This general conclusion is highly dependent on the specific system examined.

Keywords: geographical information systems; heat demand; district heating; heat planning; low-temperature district heating (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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