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

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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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Steffen Nielsen & Lars Grundahl, 2018. "District Heating Expansion Potential with Low-Temperature and End-Use Heat Savings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:2:p:277-:d:128441
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Sorknæs, Peter & Nielsen, Steffen & Lund, Henrik & Mathiesen, Brian Vad & Moreno, Diana & Thellufsen, Jakob Zinck, 2022. "The benefits of 4th generation district heating and energy efficient datacentres," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    3. Siddique, Muhammad Bilal & Nielsen, Per Sieverts & Rosendal, Mathias Berg & Jensen, Ida Græsted & Keles, Dogan, 2023. "Impacts of earlier natural gas phase-out & heat-saving policies on district heating and the energy system," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    4. Francesco Neirotti & Michel Noussan & Stefano Riverso & Giorgio Manganini, 2019. "Analysis of Different Strategies for Lowering the Operation Temperature in Existing District Heating Networks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-17, January.
    5. Víctor M. Soltero & Ricardo Chacartegui & Carlos Ortiz & Gonzalo Quirosa, 2018. "Techno-Economic Analysis of Rural 4th Generation Biomass District Heating," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-20, November.

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