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Transition pathways for a gas supplied district heating network to an ultra low carbon district heating network: A case study for Holywell Park, Loughborough University

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  • Pans, M.A.
  • Claudio, G.
  • Eames, P.C.

Abstract

The research work presented applies a novel model to simulate and understand options for how an existing gas-supplied district heating network (EGS-DHN) for Holywell Park, Loughborough University (Loughborough, UK) could be transitioned to an ultra low-carbon district heating network (ULC-DHN). The ULC-DHN includes heat pumps (HPs) (powered by low carbon electricity from a range of sources) and evacuated-tube solar thermal collectors (ETSTCs), to both provide heat directly to buildings and to charge a potential seasonal thermal energy storage (STES) system. Three different configurations for the ULC-DHN are modelled, each corresponding to different electricity sources used to provide power to the HPs: zero-carbon grid electricity, on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) generated electricity and on-site wind generated electricity. For each Configuration the effect of a) the maximum amount of zero-carbon electricity used by the HPs to meet heat demands and/or to charge the STES, b) the area of ETSTC (AETSTC) and c) the volume of STES (VSTES) on the levelized cost of heat (LCOH) is predicted for the next 23 years. The predictions show that due to the high capacity factor of wind turbines in the UK, using on-site wind generated electricity to power HPs leads to the lowest LCOH value (3.33 p/kWh). Using on-site PV generated electricity to power HPs results in a similar minimum LCOH value to that obtained when using zero-carbon grid electricity. The predicted minimum cost break-even time, obtained when comparing the annual cumulative cost for the EGS-DHN and the ULC-DHN, is 5 years.

Suggested Citation

  • Pans, M.A. & Claudio, G. & Eames, P.C., 2025. "Transition pathways for a gas supplied district heating network to an ultra low carbon district heating network: A case study for Holywell Park, Loughborough University," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:255:y:2025:i:c:s0960148125015058
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123841
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    References listed on IDEAS

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