District Heating Expansion Potential with Low-Temperature and End-Use Heat Savings
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...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/2/277 |
| _version_ | 1811304047183921152 |
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| author | Steffen Nielsen Lars Grundahl |
| author_facet | Steffen Nielsen Lars Grundahl |
| author_sort | Steffen Nielsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T07:58:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-53c1082395754a85bfffb0b97d5a80ed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T07:58:57Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-53c1082395754a85bfffb0b97d5a80ed2022-12-22T02:55:19ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732018-01-0111227710.3390/en11020277en11020277District Heating Expansion Potential with Low-Temperature and End-Use Heat SavingsSteffen Nielsen0Lars Grundahl1Department of Development and Planning, Aalborg University, Rendsburggade 14, DK-9000 Aalborg, DenmarkDepartment of Development and Planning, Aalborg University, A. C. Meyers Vænge 15, DK-2450 København SV, DenmarkDistrict 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.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/2/277geographical information systemsheat demanddistrict heatingheat planninglow-temperature district heating |
| spellingShingle | Steffen Nielsen Lars Grundahl District Heating Expansion Potential with Low-Temperature and End-Use Heat Savings Energies geographical information systems heat demand district heating heat planning low-temperature district heating |
| title | District Heating Expansion Potential with Low-Temperature and End-Use Heat Savings |
| title_full | District Heating Expansion Potential with Low-Temperature and End-Use Heat Savings |
| title_fullStr | District Heating Expansion Potential with Low-Temperature and End-Use Heat Savings |
| title_full_unstemmed | District Heating Expansion Potential with Low-Temperature and End-Use Heat Savings |
| title_short | District Heating Expansion Potential with Low-Temperature and End-Use Heat Savings |
| title_sort | district heating expansion potential with low temperature and end use heat savings |
| topic | geographical information systems heat demand district heating heat planning low-temperature district heating |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/2/277 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT steffennielsen districtheatingexpansionpotentialwithlowtemperatureandenduseheatsavings AT larsgrundahl districtheatingexpansionpotentialwithlowtemperatureandenduseheatsavings |