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Decarbonizing District Heating in EU-27 + UK: How Much Excess Heat Is Available from Industrial Sites?

Author

Listed:
  • Pia Manz

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany)

  • Katerina Kermeli

    (Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • Urban Persson

    (School of Business, Innovation and Sustainability, Halmstad University, 301 18 Halmstad, Sweden)

  • Marius Neuwirth

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany)

  • Tobias Fleiter

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany)

  • Wina Crijns-Graus

    (Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Energy-intensive industries across the EU-28 release unused heat into the environment. This excess heat can be utilized for district heating systems. However, this is the exception today, and the potential contribution to the decarbonization of district heating is not well quantified. An estimation of excess heat, based on industrial processes, and spatial matching to district heating areas is necessary. We present a georeferenced industrial database with annual production and excess heat potentials at different temperature levels matched with current and possible district heating areas. Our results show a total potential of 960 PJ/a (267 TWh/a) of excess heat when the exhaust gases are cooled down to 25 °C, with 47% of the 1.608 studied industrial sites inside or within a 10 km distance of district heating areas. The calculated potentials reveal that currently 230 PJ/a (64 TWh/a) of excess heat is available for district heating areas, about 17% of today’s demand of buildings for district heating. In the future, widespread and low-temperature district heating areas increase the available excess heat to 258 PJ/a (72 TWh/a) at 55 °C or 679 PJ/a (189 TWh/a) at 25 °C. We show that industrial excess heat can substantially contribute to decarbonize district heating, however, the major share of heat will need to be supplied by renewables.

Suggested Citation

  • Pia Manz & Katerina Kermeli & Urban Persson & Marius Neuwirth & Tobias Fleiter & Wina Crijns-Graus, 2021. "Decarbonizing District Heating in EU-27 + UK: How Much Excess Heat Is Available from Industrial Sites?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-34, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:3:p:1439-:d:489695
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaoyang Hou & Shuai Zhong & Jian’an Zhao, 2022. "A Critical Review on Decarbonizing Heating in China: Pathway Exploration for Technology with Multi-Sector Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-23, February.
    2. Johannsen, Rasmus Magni & Mathiesen, Brian Vad & Kermeli, Katerina & Crijns-Graus, Wina & Østergaard, Poul Alberg, 2023. "Exploring pathways to 100% renewable energy in European industry," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    3. Guelpa, E. & Capone, M. & Sciacovelli, A. & Vasset, N. & Baviere, R. & Verda, V., 2023. "Reduction of supply temperature in existing district heating: A review of strategies and implementations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PB).
    4. Stella Oberle & Marius Neuwirth & Till Gnann & Martin Wietschel, 2022. "Can Industry Keep Gas Distribution Networks Alive? Future Development of the Gas Network in a Decarbonized World: A German Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-20, December.
    5. Ziemele, Jelena & Volkova, Anna & Latõšov, Eduard & Murauskaitė, Lina & Džiuvė, Vytautas, 2023. "Comparative assessment of heat recovery from treated wastewater in the district heating systems of the three capitals of the Baltic countries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    6. Ziemele, Jelena & Dace, Elina, 2022. "An analytical framework for assessing the integration of the waste heat into a district heating system: Case of the city of Riga," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PB).

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