District

Heating Cooling &

w a rd s 2 020 – 2
Nt o 0 30
–2
ISI O 05
aV 0

TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM
2 I

Colophon

May 2009

DHC+ Technology Platform

Avenue de Tervuren 300

1150 Brussels

www.dhcplus.eu
 Contents

4 Introduction

6 The future starts today

14 Vision 2020 - Deploying best practices

Low-hanging fruit
Towards 2020

20 Vision 2030 - Realizing the greater potential

Integrated solutions
Towards 2030

24 Vision 2050 - Zero carbon solutions

Envisioning 2050

26 Annex: DHC – Fundamental idea

4 I

T
Introduction
This document contains the European Challenged by climate change, the need
Vision for district heating and cooling to secure sustainable economic growth
(DHC) technology. and social cohesion, Europe must
achieve a genuine energy revolution to
Starting with the present-day situa- reverse present-day unsustainable
tion, the Vision sets out in global terms trends and live up to the ambitious policy
how district heating and cooling expectations. A rational, consistent and
stakeholders see the future develop- far-sighted approach to heating and
ment of their industry. It reflects on cooling is key for ensuring such trans-
the basic features of district heating formation.
and district cooling and on the ways
the systems are expected to evolve While overlooked by policy discourse for
throughout their subsequent stages of years, the heating and cooling sectors
development – showing why they are are major players on the energy market,
key infrastructures for a resource responsible for more than half of total
efficient European energy system; final energy consumption and a signifi-
both of today and of the future. cant share of European greenhouse gas
emissions.1

It is clear that heating and cooling

– and more specifically the most optimal
forms of it – should figure prominently

For the future, district heating and cooling can offer Europe:

2020
• Avoidance of 9.3% of all European CO2 emissions by district heating
• Additional 40 – 50 million tonnes of annual CO2 reductions by district cooling
• Decrease of primary energy consumption with 2.14 EJ (595 TWh) per year,
BY corresponding to 2.6% of entire European primary energy demand

BY 2030
 Introduction I 5

in national, European and international This document aims to draw a realistic

climate change and energy policy picture of goals and expectations.
strategies for the decades to come. Currently, there are differences in the
state of district heating and cooling
District heating and cooling is based technology throughout Europe; therefore
on the ‘fundamental idea’ of using local the timeframes in the Vision represent the
heat, cold and fuel sources that under final, pan-European state of technological
normal circumstances would be lost or achievement. In the most advanced
remain unused. Another essential schemes progress is much faster, but as
feature is that it provides a flexible the older systems are upgraded, innova-
infrastructure able to integrate a wide tions can be applied wherever there are
range of (renewable) energy sources. networks.
At present, with approximately 86% of
heat deriving from a combination of This Vision was prepared by the District
recovered heat, renewable energy and Heating and Cooling plus (DHC+) Technology
waste resources, modern district Platform. Aiming to promote research and
heating and cooling comes very close innovation in district heating, district cooling
to fulfilling its fundamental idea in and kindred technologies, the Platform
practice. gathers and consults a wide range of key
stakeholders throughout Europe.
However, a far greater potential waits
to be exploited. As follow-up step to the Vision a research
agenda will be prepared, setting out in
further detail the objectives and the
strategic research and innovation efforts
required to attain them.

For more information on the DHC+

Technology Platform and its activities
• 25% share of renewable energies
please visit our website: www.dhcplus.eu
in district heating
• Reduced European energy import
dependency with 4.45 EJ (1236 TWh)

• A smart energy exchange network, allowing for optimal

resource allocation between the multiple low carbon
energy sources feeding into the system and various
Yves Delaby (Dalkia),
temperature demands of customers. Chairman of the Platform

BY 2050 Fully carbon neutral energy solutions

through regional, integrated networks.
“District heating and
district cooling
represent the most
suitable energy
solutions for
satisfying urban heat
and cold demands”

The Future Starts

 T h e F u t u r e S t a r t s To d a y I 7

What is district heating and cooling? District cooling provides space and
District heating and cooling is a process cooling primarily for
technological concept comprising commercial and public buildings, but
infrastructure for delivering heating also for the industrial and residential
and cooling services to customers sectors.
throughout Europe and other parts of
the world. ‘Unity in diversity’
District heating and cooling systems
Heating is the largest single energy are inherently diverse: while employing
end-use in Europe, it is responsible for similar operating principles each
approximately 50% of total final energy network develops according to specific
consumption.2 Taking an average local circumstances and the historical
dwelling in Europe as example, 68% of developments of the technology in the
its total energy demand is used for region. Furthermore each individual
satisfying space heating needs and 14% network adapts to changing
for producing warm water.3 The current requirements, new opportunities and
total cooling demand, while much innovation.
smaller is growing exponentially:
expectations are that by 2020 at least This makes district heating and cooling
60% of commercial and public buildings into a true technological ‘unity in
in Europe will be equipped with cooling diversity’: unity in that the fundamentals
appliances. World-wide at least 10% of are similar, diversity in that systems
electricity used is for cooling purposes, have their own individual charac­
in the United States cooling buildings teristics and performance.
represents one sixth of total generated
electricity [see Annex].4 District heating and cooling today

District heating systems provide space

heating and hot tap water to residential, There are more than 5.000 “Heating and
commercial, public and industrial district heating systems in cooling are
customers. District heat is also used in Europe, currently supplying responsible
low to medium temperature industrial more than 9% of total European for more than
processes like rinsing, evaporation, and heat demands with an annual 50% of total
turnover of €19.5 billion and 2 final energy
drying. In the agricultural sector district
consumption

Today
EJ (556 TWh) heat sales. Market
penetration of district heating is in the
unevenly distributed, being close European
Union.”
to zero in some countries while
reaching as high as 70% of the
heat market in others.

heat is used for greenhouses, fish

farms, biofuel production and larger It is mainly the northern, central and
agricultural structures. eastern European countries that have
high penetration of district heating,
while Poland and Germany have the
 8 I

largest total amount of district heat

delivery. Highest growth rates for
district heating are achieved in Austria
and Italy.

In cities like Copenhagen, Helsinki,

Warsaw, Vilnius, Riga as much as 90%
of residential heat demands are
satisfied by district heat. Commercial
and public buildings show high
connection rates in district heated
cities.
Sweden for instance is expected to
The European share of district heating reach a 25% district cooling market
in industry is around 3.5%. Higher share for commercial and institutional
market shares (10 to 15%) appear in buildings in two to three years time.
individual countries including Hungary, Cities that have reached or are on the
Poland, Finland, Netherlands, and way towards reaching 50% district
Czech Republic.5 cooling shares include Paris, Helsinki,
Stockholm, Amsterdam, Vienna,
It is generally accepted that most Barcelona, Copenhagen.6
state-of-the-art district heating
systems are situated in western parts
of Europe, Scandinavia in particular. Urban energy service
These networks score high in terms of The benefits of district heating and
energy efficiency, renewable energies district cooling are most apparent in
“The integration, economic performance, areas with high density energy
fundamental reliability and customer confidence.
idea of district demands. Therefore, district heating
heating and and district cooling represent the most
cooling is to suitable energy solutions for satisfying
use local heat, urban heat and cold demands.
District cooling in Europe today
cold and fuel
has a market share of about 2%
sources that
of the total cooling market,
under normal
corresponding to approximately In the European Union some 73%
circumstances
3 TWh cooling. The market of the population live in cities,
would be lost
or remain penetration of district cooling rising to an estimated 80% by
unused’ shows great diversity. Overall, 2030. At present 69% of total
this market has emerged quite primary energy demands are
recently and is consequently less concentrated in urban areas.
developed than the district Energy consumption per capita
heating market. It is, however, is less in European Union cities
growing fast with the last decade than those in USA and Australia,
seeing a tenfold growth in partly due to a greater use of
installed capacity. district heating.7
 T h e F u t u r e S t a r t s To d a y I 9

Considering the modest aggregate buildings can be boosted as air

market share of district heating and conditioners are eliminated from the
cooling throughout Europe, a great deal façades, also saving valuable
can be gained by wider penetration of commercial space.
these technological solutions in cities.
Professionals take care of the
Apart from urban environments, energy installation, operation and maintenance
demands from industry and intensive of the system. To ensure efficient
agriculture are suitable for district heat. operation, utility supervision of
In these sectors an additional benefit is customer installations and the reading “District
that the district heating network makes of consumption levels is increasingly heating and
it possible to capture and transport CO2 performed through remote-controlled cooling
for industrial processes and green­ measuring equipment. Various forms provide a
houses, representing another carbon of service and ownership arrangements flexible
abatement opportunity. can be agreed between customer and infrastructure
able to
supplier.
integrate a
In some countries including Iceland,
wide range of
Denmark, Finland and Sweden high (renewable)
shares of single-family houses in Good economy energy
lower heat density areas are also sources on
connected to district heating (shares large scale.”
going up to 85%).8 District heating and cooling is a
competitive and cost-effective
technology. Although initial
Customer service investment costs in the systems
are high, with the life-time cost
and energy system benefits in
District heating and district mind, very good value for money
cooling provide a reliable, is achieved.
comfortable and simple energy
service at stable and affordable
One of the primary barriers to the
prices.
expansion of district heating and
cooling systems in Europe is the
Heat and cold are delivered directly to financial climate favouring fast returns
customers. No boilers and burning on investment. District heating and
flames are needed inside the building, cooling infrastructure however provides
while individual substations are small a long-term, secure investment
and silent. This is much more opportunity in real value, which is
convenient than the conventional important for a healthy and stable
solutions that require individual economy.
heating and cooling equipment in each
building. Especially in the case of
district cooling the aesthetics of
 70% Transportation
60%
Electricity
50%
10 I 40% Heat
30% District heating
20%
10%
0%
Total primary Total final Total end use
energy supply consumption (estimated)

Eu27 - Heat sources for district heating

PJ/year
3.000
Fossils fuels
direct use
2.500 Renewables (biofuels,
geothermal, solar etc.)
+ Waste
2.000 direct use

Recovered / recycled heat

1.500 from biomass + waste
indirect use
Recovered / recycled heat
1.000

500

0
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

District heating and district cooling Europe is leading the world in district
reduce primary energy demand [see energy technology. Increased interest
“86% of heat next page]. This frees financial for such solutions in the Middle-East,
for district
resources for redistribution into other Asia and North America leads to many
heating
spheres of the economy. It also reduces business opportunities with corres­
derives from
the need for investment in more ponding positive impact on the export
a combination
of recovered generation capacity. balance of expert services and
heat, technology.
renewable As a system using local heat and cold
energy and resources and infrastructure, local Increased energy security
waste economic opportunities are improved.
resources” Investment in networks and customer
At present the EU imports 54%
connections is local investment. The
of all primary energy sources
supply of renewable sources is also
from outside its zone. According
mainly local, providing value and
to even the most positive
promoting the sustainable mana­
scenarios this percentage is
gement of regional resources. The
expected to rise to between 56
system’s ability to integrate a wide
and 60% by 2020,9 and possibly to
variety of energy sources also boosts
70% by 2030.10
competition between the various
sources on the market.
 T h e F u t u r e S t a r t s To d a y I 11

District heating and cooling can reduce

this potentially unstable dependency on Based on the fundamental idea of
“Energy
energy imports in two ways: by using ‘surplus’, ‘recycled’ or consumption
reducing the overall need for primary ‘recovered’ heat (i.e. heat per capita is
energy and by replacing imported generated as inevitable less in
energy with local resources. As by-product of other processes European
practically any type of fuel or energy that otherwise would be wasted) Union cities
source can be utilized, a relatively quick as a valuable energy resource, than those in
switch to other fuel sources can be district heating and district USA and
achieved should shortages arise. cooling reduce primary energy Australia,
partly due to a
demand [see Annex]. At present
greater use of
District heating and district cooling around 82% of district heat in the
district
provide a robust infrastructure with European Union is derived from
heating.”
high levels of reliability in energy supply sources of surplus heat. By far
that is capable of adapting to potential the largest proportion of this
climatic and other emergencies.11 heat originates from combined
heat and power installations,
Lower primary energy consumption corresponding to more than
Reducing primary energy consumption three quarters of total district
is the first and foremost requirement heat energy supply. The result is
for attaining the main European energy a reduction in European primary
policy objectives. Primary energy energy demand of at least 0.9 EJ
consumption in Europe has been rising (250 TWh) per year.13
steadily since the 1970s. Trends based
on a business as usual scenario predict District cooling, due to its use of
an increase in total primary surplus heat from the district
consumption of 5 to 9% by 2020 and 10 heating network and natural
to 26% by 2030.12 cooling sources, has a resource
efficiency rate 5 to 10 times
higher than electrically driven air
conditioners. This leads to
Sources for district cooling
significant primary energy
savings and a reduction in
electricity demand of up to 80%
over typical conventional cooling
Natural Cooling Cooling
(Bottom water Machines & Heat systems.
etc.) Pumps

Cooling Sources

Snow & Ice Groundwater

Absorption technologie
Through district heating,
re-circulated heat etc.
 12 I

Sustainable fuel mix

District heating and district cooling The combined share of biomass,
imply a highly flexible energy mix. New geothermal, solar and waste in
fuels and energy sources can be the energy source mix is
integrated with minimal adjustment by currently around 14%. This
the operator. For customers no compares favourably with the
adaptation measures at all are required average European Union share
when a switch of energy source is made. of renewable energies which is
currently 7% of primary energy
demand and 8.5% of final energy
In particular, district heating and consumption.14
cooling networks constitute vital
infrastructure to ensure large
scale integration of renewable The share of renewable energy sources
energy sources. The majority of varies greatly by country. The highest
energy use for heating and shares are found in Sweden, Norway,
cooling takes place in urban Denmark and Finland (between 30 and
areas where it is most difficult to 50%). Iceland with a 97% geothermal
make use of renewable energy supply stands out as being almost fully
systems. The use of solid fuels is renewable.15
for example not welcome in
urban areas because of delivery The example on the next page shows
and storage logistics, raised how the district heating energy mix has
local emissions and extra developed in Sweden from 1980 to 2005,
pressure on space. making apparent the enormous
potential for energy mix diversification
and the integration of renewable
Benefits of scale associated with sources.16
centralized energy production make
viable the use of hard-to-manage
combustible renewables and other District cooling often uses a variety of
renewable and natural energy sources sources simultaneously dependent on
“Trends
that would otherwise remain unused or the availability of these sources in the
based on a
business as would be less (cost-) effectively vicinity of each system. These include
usual exploited in individual applications. natural cooling sources like ground,
scenario lake, river and sea water and ice and
predict an District heating and cooling networks snow. As example, a district cooling
increase in play a strategic role in the rational system under establishment in
total management of non-recyclable Copenhagen will use 30% sea water,
European municipal waste. Instead of landfilling, 30% absorption chilling based on
primary this resource is used to generate district heat and 40% compression
consumption power, heat and cooling in waste-to- chilling for its cooling supply.17
of 5 to 9% by
energy plants, thereby displacing fossil
2020 and 10 to
fuels and reducing greenhouse gas
26% by 2030.”
emissions, while also reducing local
authority spending on landfill gate fees.
 T h e F u t u r e S t a r t s To d a y I 13

Reduced greenhouse gas emissions Pollution prevention and control

District heating and district cooling
reduce local pollutants such as dust,
At present, district heating alone sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides by
is responsible for avoiding at replacing exhausts from individual
least 113 million tonnes of CO2 boilers. In addition to the reduced use of
emissions per year. This fuels, far more effective pollution
corresponds to 2.6% of total prevention and control measures can
European CO2 emissions. be taken in central production facilities.

District cooling can, due to its District cooling also reduces emissions
highly energy efficient of HFC and HCFC refrigerants and
performance, reduce CO2 provides a technical option for phasing
emissions by as much as 75% as them out, in accordance with
compared to conventional international agreements.
electrical chillers.18

Energy mix In Swedish district heating

TWh CO2 (kg/MWh)

60.000 350.0
CO2
50.000 300.0

40.000 250.0

30.000 150.0

20.000 100.0

10.000 50.0

0 0
1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

Biomass Heat pumps

Other (incl. solar) Electric boilers

Surplus heat from industry Coal

Waste Natural gas

Peat Oil
Vision 2020
Deploying Best
• Cornerstone of realistic
strategies for attaining
European Union 2020 energy
policy targets
• European-wide expansion
• Innovation for new
generations of technology
• Modernization where
required
 Vision 2020: Deploying Best Practices I 15

Practices cooling can grow to satisfy 25% of

cooling demands. The expansion of
Low-hanging fruit state-of-the-art systems coupled with
further improvements of existing
Being a proven solution with a track- networks, would bring a multiplication
record of development, the benefits of of the benefits district heating and
district heating and cooling technology district cooling are already providing
are ready to be exploited. today.

As identified by the Intelligent Energy 20-20-20 by 2020 and more…

Europe supported European heat and With European Union energy policy
cold market study ‘Ecoheatcool’,19 priorities and ‘2020 targets’ in mind, the
district heating can double its share of following benefits can be achieved
the European heat market by 2020 within Europe by expanding the district
(reaching approximately an 18 – 20% heating and cooling markets as
share) and by the same time district described.20

CO2 emissions Renewable energy sources

District heating reduces 517 million The share of renewable energy
tonnes of CO2 emissions per year: sources directly and indirectly
more than 9.3% of all carbon utilized in district heating and
emissions in Europe. cooling systems is increased to at
District cooling achieves a further least 25%.
40 to 50 million tonnes of CO2
emission reductions per year. Import dependency
District heating reduces European
Energy efficiency import dependency by 4.45 EJ
District heating decreases (1236 TWh), or 5.5% of the entire
European primary energy use by European primary energy supply:
2.14 EJ (595 TWh) or 50.7 Mtoe per more than the total energy balance
year. This corresponds to a 2.6% of Poland.
reduction in the entire European
primary energy supply: equal to the District cooling further decreases
whole annual primary energy import dependency because of
supply of Sweden. its highly energy efficient
performance and use of local
District cooling saves 50 to 60 TWh cold sources.
(180 – 216 PJ) of electricity per year.
 16 I

Towards 2020
Considering the different stages at
which district heating and cooling
“Three main technology presently exists in Europe,
strategies to three simultaneous and
increase
complementary strategies are foreseen
contribution to
in order to achieve the technology’s full
EU 2022
energy targets:
contribution towards the ‘2020 targets’:
progressive progressive technological innovation,
technological modernization and expansion.
innovation,
modernization Progressive innovation: towards
and next generations of technology
expansion.” Modern district heating and cooling
systems can still benefit from
progressive improvements to the
generation, distribution and
customer sides.
Innovation focused on upgrading
materials, equipment and processes
can lead to even higher levels of
efficiency, cost-effectiveness and
In district heating new types of
customer service. The
synergies with sustainable
standardization of solutions and
energy sources and production
equipment deserves special
technologies are adopted and
emphasis.
existing ones significantly
extended. Various biofuels and
waste resources increasingly
replace fossil fuels in existing
and new cogeneration and
boiler facilities. Other
renewables like (deep)
geothermal and solar from
large thermal plants are
increasingly integrated. Even
surplus wind energy can be
stored as heat in district
heating networks by means of
electrical boilers and heat
pumps.
 Vision 2020: Deploying Best Practices I 17

Higher efficiency, lower costs and Modernization:

greater overall confidence in district transferring best practices
heating systems extends viability to
lower temperature surplus heat
sources transported over longer The performance of existing
distances. This increases the range district heating systems across
of heat sources that can be effec­ Europe will be much more
tively employed. The potential to tap consistent when the successful
surplus heat sources including techniques of the most
industrial waste heat, the use of effective systems are
which was not considered earlier for transferred to older, less
reasons of cost-effectiveness, is efficient networks.
increased. The polygeneration of
heat, electricity and biofuels is By 2020 each system in Europe
extended. has reached performance
levels comparable to the levels
District cooling can similarly make attained by the best performing
use of a greater range of natural systems deployed in 2012.
cooling sources situated at greater Performance levels of these
distances from the customer. Further ‘best’ systems serve as
enhancements in the efficiency of benchmarks for those systems
cooling cycles and ice sludge tech­ in need of modernization.
nology is pursued. The innovative use
of new cooling sources, like cold
recovery from liquefied natural gas Precisely due to the difficulty of “District
(LNG) regasification processes, is comparing district heating networks, heating can
constantly considered. achieving this aim requires realistically
consistent and flexible quality double its
Research and deployment of pilot assessment tools and systems of share on the
demonstration sites is a necessary heat market,
best-practice transfer. Best-practice
while district
step for approaching the large-scale transfer does not mean full
cooling can
implementation of innovative replication of existing schemes,
achieve a 25%
systems. which may not even be feasible, but cooling market
an inventive application of the share”
Additional customer service models techniques and best-practices to
and communication channels with each particular regional and local
(potential) customers are devised. circumstance.
 18 I

The deployment of best-practices Regulatory aspects of energy

needs to address both technology markets will be analyzed and
and policy issues. The development improvements proposed to policy
of district heating networks in parts frameworks at European, national
of Europe has been closely and municipal levels. This will be
connected to the political framework focused on ensuring that the benefits
in place. Similarly, the progressive of district heating and district
modernization of the technology will cooling are correctly accounted for
in part be dependent on the provision and assist the growth and
of the right types of political development of innovative features.
incentives. Promoting primary resource factor
as the basis for evaluating the
Expansion of existing networks efficiency of end-user solutions, and
To ensure a doubling of the district creating a level playing field on the
heating and a 25% market share for market (e.g. with regard to natural
district cooling by 2020, a significant gas pricing, reducing administrative
expansion of existing networks is barriers) are amongst the priority
required. This applies to systems in areas of attention.
most European countries, even though
the required growth rates differ in Awareness raising of the working
accordance with the market situation in principles and the benefits of district
“District
heating and each country. heating and district cooling is of
cooling: great importance. This is true in
cornerstone of particular for countries where the
realistic Comprehensive, multi-level district heating market is
strategies for country strategies addressing undeveloped and knowledge about
attaining EU all relevant stakeholders are the technology is likely to be limited.
2020 energy established. Far-sighted, However, it is also recommended for
policy targets.” rational energy planning at countries where district heating is
national and local levels, well-established: even here district
carried out in cooperation with heating and cooling is often a largely
energy providers and ‘invisible’ solution among society at
investors, will boost the large. Communication and dialogue
possibilities for expansion. with customers, the wider public,
Channels for sharing national, regional and local policy-
international and European makers, investors, universities,
experience are actively used architects, builders and other
to ensure that optimal stakeholders is pursued as a vital
solutions are deployed with the element of successful expansion
installation of new systems. strategies.
 Vision 2020: Deploying Best Practices I 19

“The Louvre
museum:
one of the
many
customers
supplied by
district
cooling”

Modeling future demands

Another crucial area of activity to the urban planning circumstances to help
entire European sector is to gain a district heating and cooling providers
better understanding of the trends in and policy-makers pursue informed
energy and customer demands and choices for the future.
Vision 2030
Realizing The Greater
 Vision 2030: Realizing The Greater Potential I 21

example for the renewed way of

• Central component in energy thinking about the entire energy cycle.
system transformation
The local dimension receives more
• Intelligent energy exchange
focus and becomes an important
network
element in planning rational energy
• Sustainable energy mix solutions. Optimal supply-demand
diversification interaction can only be achieved when
• New uses the difficulties and opportunities of the
particular circumstances of a locality
are taken into account. This under­
standing leads to a proliferation of
tailor-made solutions making an
Integrated solutions increasingly inventive use of the energy
resources available in each area.
The drive for transforming the energy
system has reached full momentum Localization goes hand-in-hand with
and conventional thinking about energy centralized, large-scale and highly
is making place for structurally new efficient energy generation facilities.
approaches. Strategic decisions need to The crucial element for the success of
be made at this time, particularly when this new approach is that an effective
considering that by 2030 infrastructure way for matching the various supply
associated with more than 50% of sources with the various energy
European Union electricity capacity will demands is available. Apart from the
be in need of replacement, representing electricity grid, district heating and “Optimal
a potential investment of around € 900 cooling is the only other energy energy
billion.21 infrastructure that can be used for the solutions can
effective exchange and redistribution of only be
It has become apparent as reality, and energy. achieved when
no longer as visionary thought, that emphasis is
optimal energy solutions can only be put on the
achieved when more emphasis is put on Towards 2030 dynamic
interaction
the dynamic interaction between
between
generation, distribution and demand. European district heating and generation,
District heating and cooling’s holistic cooling infrastructure acts as an distribution
approach to energy can be used as intelligent energy exchange and demand.”
network; a ‘smart grid’.

From a classical district heating

Potential
configuration using one main energy
source to supply customers, the step is
made to a multiple source system.
Operators can feed a wide variety of
sustainable heat and cold sources into
the system at different places in the
 22 I

network, depending on availability and

need, and effectively and timely match The main differentiation in the
them to customer demands. building stock is that some
buildings are energy-producing,
IT driven technologies combined with e.g. by means of solar thermal
real-time smart metering devices and capacity, while others remain to
plug-and-play intelligent substations various degrees heat demanding.
for individual customers, allows energy District heating allows the
inputs and outputs to be identified and exchange of heat from energy-
regulated in order to optimize the producing buildings to buildings
interaction between sources of energy requiring heat input, either by
supply and the various temperature integrating the excess heat into
demands of customers. Heat and cold the network or by applying direct
storage, which have reached high rates house-to-house connections.
of efficiency, are important for
achieving the best allocation of
resources in this process. Such grid Such systems are already in place in
can simultaneously operate as storage Sweden and experience from Denmark
opportunity for the various energy and Austria shows that ‘passive houses’
sources dependent on fluctuations in can be effectively connected to modern
natural circumstance. district heating grids.

This type of system presupposes the Extended uses

effective accommodation of different As well as developments in the
temperature energy sources. There are infrastructure itself, district heating
various ways to achieve this, depending contributes to rational energy use in a
on the circumstances of the particular further way.
network. Possible solutions include the
adaptation of operational temperature Over the years, lifestyle changes have
levels throughout the entire network been coupled with a trend towards
and applying innovative types of higher comfort levels, more
pipeline configurations. Also the use of households and increased use of
transfer media other than water could electric household appliances. These
“District
heating and contribute to the solution. tendencies almost offset all energy
cooling: smart efficiency improvements achieved in
infrastructure Interacting buildings the residential sector during the period
for an effective Within the energy exchange framework 1990 to 2004.23 Presuming a growth of
match of provided by district heating and cooling the economy over the long-term, the
energy demand infrastructure, the special case of trend of higher comfort requirements
and supply” interactive buildings deserves to be and using more appliances will be on
highlighted. Although the overall the increase. 24
energy demand of the building stock is
reduced due to more stringent
efficiency requirements particularly for
new buildings, great disparities in the
building stock still remain.22
 Vision 2030: Realizing The Greater Potential I 23

“Lifestyle
changes have
been coupled
with a trend
towards higher
comfort levels,
more
households
and increased
use of electric
household
appliances,
these
tendencies
have offset
much of the
energy
efficiency
achievements
in the
residential
sector.”

Taking on these additional uses

District heating provides heat to improves the cost-effectiveness of
a wide variety of in-house district heating networks and further
appliances that were formerly reduces primary energy consumption,
electrically heated. Such decreasing the need to invest in new
appliances include washing electricity generation capacity.
machines, tumble dryers, Combined with the electricity demand
dishwashers, ventilation reductions delivered by district cooling
systems, low temperature systems, electricity can be reserved for
cooking devices, and automatic uses where no better solutions are
integrated household operational available.
systems. A demonstration house
in Goteborg, Sweden shows the
feasibility of coupling such
devices to district heat.
Vision 2050
 Vision 2050: Zero Carbon Solutions I 25

Driven by efficiency, flexibility and

• Basic energy infrastructure intelligence, these systems will keep on
tapping the untapped energy potentials.
• Regional networks
• Zero carbon solutions Zero carbon solutions
• Integrated climate comfort District heating and cooling offers its
customers entirely carbon neutral
energy solutions. Energy input into the
system is based solely on renewable,
low carbon energy sources and those
coupled to state of the art carbon
Envisioning 2050 abatement technologies.

Basic energy infrastructures

District heating and cooling networks District heating and cooling
are widespread energy exchange technology plays a major role in
systems. Forming an integral part of achieving at least an 80%
the infrastructure of most European “District
reduction of total European
cities and towns, they are installed heating and
greenhouse gas emissions, a
together with other basic networks like cooling
50% energy efficiency
electricity cables, drinking water and provides
improvement of the European entirely carbon
sewage pipes. energy system and a 60% share neutral energy
of renewable energy in total solutions to its
Regional networks European energy consumption.25 customers”
Interconnected local grids create
region-wide district heating and cooling
networks, resulting in even greater
energy security, extended Integrated climate comfort
diversification of the sustainable energy With combined heat and cold supply,
mix, further balance in the supply- integrated district heating and cooling
demand interaction and cost systems guarantee customers a stable
reductions. indoor climate throughout the whole
year in accordance with individual
comfort requirements.

Zero Carbon Solutions

Annex
DHC-Fundamental idea
The ‘fundamental idea’
behind modern district
heating and cooling is to
use local heat, cold and fuel
sources that under normal
circumstances would be
lost or remain unused.
 Annex: DHC-Fundamental idea I 27

Europe’s wasted energy occur primarily in the form of heat.27

The European energy system in its Most of the losses are attributable to
present state is responsible for a thermal power generation of electricity,
tremendous waste of energy. This which has low conversion efficiency.
waste occurs throughout the various
processes starting from primary The third bar provides an estimated
energy input into the energy system and division of total energy end-use. Heat,
ending with final energy end-use. with 50 to 60%, is the largest energy
end-use. In end-use too, large energy
Taking the figure as example,22 the first losses occur in the form of heat. These
bar reflects the total calorific value of losses are mainly incurred in high
primary energy input into the European temperature industrial processes, heat
energy system (e.g. fossil fuels, generation in individual boilers and
renewables, nuclear etc.). conversion losses from engines.
Taking the figure as example, the first
bar reflects the total calorific value of
primary energy input into the European
energy system (e.g. fossil fuels, In summary, the overall picture
renewables, nuclear etc.). 26 of Europe’s unsustainable use of
heat is striking:
The second bar shows the total final 1. From primary energy supply
consumption of energy in all sectors, to energy end use more than
reduced by the energy losses incurred half of total European primary
in energy transformation. Energy energy input is wasted;
transformation includes processes like 2. Most of this waste occurs in
power generation, oil refining, heat the form of heat;
production and distribution losses in 3. Around 60% of total energy
electricity and heat networks. These end-use takes place in the
losses amount to approximately 25-30% form of heat.
of the total primary energy input and

To t a l p r i m a r y e n e r g y s u p p l y

100% Losses in energy

90% transformation
80% Losses in end use
70% Transportation
60%
Electricity
50%
40% Heat
30% District heating
20%
10%
0%
Total primary Total final Total end use
energy supply consumption (estimated)

PJ/year
3.000
Fossils fuels
direct use
2.500 Renewables (biofuels,
geothermal, solar etc.)
+ Waste
2.000 direct use

Recovered / recycled heat

28 I

District heating

District heating, figuratively and

literally speaking, provides the pipeline Although not all forms of wasted heat
connecting these heat losses with heat are (yet) suitable for recovery by
demands, thereby reducing energy district heating, recoverable forms of
losses and the total volume of primary heat do represent a large part of heat
energy needed in the energy system. losses. Processes like electricity
District heating thus turns losses into generation, waste burning, high-
opportunities thereby truly achieving temperature industrial manufacture,
more with less. fuel- and biofuel refinery and nuclear
processes liberate heat at
temperatures that can no longer be
used for the process itself, but which
can satisfy other heat demands. If not
utilized, ‘recycled’ or ‘recovered’, for
these other purposes, this surplus
heat is simply lost to the atmosphere,
rivers or lakes. Such losses reflect an
unjustifiable waste of primary energy
sources.
 Annex: DHC-Fundamental idea I 29

The other major benefit of district

heating is that it can use a wide variety
of difficult to handle, local energy
sources that are less efficiently and
cost-effectively deployed in individual
applications.

As energy for district heating is

generated centrally and on large
scale, it can for instance
integrate combustible
renewables that are difficult to
manage in small boilers. This
includes most combustible
renewables such as wood waste,
straw and olive residues, and
also waste sources like
municipal waste and sewage
sludge. Various biofuels,
geothermal, solar and wind
resources can be effectively
integrated into the district
heating network by means of
By means of combined heat and power, different techniques.
which boost the efficiency of thermal
power generation from an average 45%
up to 90%, or by directly channelling At present around 86% of district heat
surplus heat from other sources into derives from a combination of
the network, district heating enables recovered heat, renewable energy and
waste heat to be recovered and used to waste sources. More than three
satisfy existing heat demands. Use of quarters of heat is supplied by
surplus heat also averts further combined heat and power (the
primary energy losses from individual renewable fuel component in
boilers. These features make district cogeneration is around 9%).28 This
heating into a unique ally in the shows how close district heating is to
movement to reduce primary energy its fundamental idea.
use and increase the efficiency of the
entire energy system. This is precisely
why district heating received a great
boost in various countries during the oil
crisis of the 1970s.
30 I

District cooling

Sources: free /
natural cooling,
district heat

Just as for district heating, the main

idea of district cooling is to use local Space and process cooling is
sources that otherwise would be moving quickly from luxury into
wasted or remain unused, in order to necessity and represents an
offer the market a competitive and exponentially growing market.
highly efficient alternative to traditional This has remained relatively
cooling solutions. In district cooling unnoticed by policy planners,
systems, cold water at a temperature of partly because cooling needs are
around 6°C circulates through buildings traditionally being met by
achieving effective cooling. electrical air conditioners, hiding
the cooling element in the
building’s overall electricity
consumption.

The rise in cooling demands is

attributable to rising ambient
temperatures, greater comfort
expectations, the perception that cooling
contributes to higher productivity, and
 Annex: DHC-Fundamental idea I 31

electricity consumption are predicted in

all scenarios. By 2080, electricity
demand in Italy and Spain is likely to
increase by 50% due to space cooling
needs, while in Athens overall energy
Production: chillers / demand in July is expected to rise by
heat pumps / 30% due to air conditioning. London will
absorption see an increase in energy use in office
buildings of 20%.30 Electrical peak loads,
traditionally occurring during winters,
are now shifting to the summer months
and challenging capacity limits.

District cooling offers a resource

saving alternative to such
developments. With chillers
driven by surplus heat from
district heating networks and
with additional use of other,
natural energy sources that
would have remained unused
without the district cooling
system (like ground- river-, lake-
the increase in internal loads of
and sea water, snow and ice),
electronic equipment. In existing district
district cooling is 5 to 10 times
cooling systems, 40 to 60% of the
more energy efficient than
cooling demands are process related
electrical airconditioning
with a climate independent base load of
systems.
15%. In the USA, Japan and the Middle
East around 80% of commercial
buildings use cooling devices. While this
share is lower in Europe a rise to 60% is Due to this superior efficiency substantial
expected by 2020.29 primary energy savings can be achieved.
District cooling can reduce cooling-
Rising electrical power demand has related electricity consumption by up to
been identified as one key indicator of 80% compared with a conventional
the increase in cooling demands. system. This because production is far
Between 1990 and 2005, electricity less based on electricity and the
consumption in the EU increased with electrical chillers employed are more
by an average of 1.7% per year, with efficient due to benefits of scale. Overall
increased cooling demands in Southern this has the potential to reduce
European countries a particularly investment needs for electricity capacity
noticeable feature. Increases in by around € 30 billion.31
32 I

Although various technologies exist to

Another role district cooling can play in Whole system approach

southern countries relates to the issue
of water resources. In Europe 44% of
total water consumption is used for Although various technologies
cooling purposes in energy production, exist to provide space heating,
primarily in thermal power plants. warm tap water, and space and
Decreasing water availability in parts of process cooling, some having
southern Europe, coupled with the higher energy efficiency
increasing trend of satisfying cooling credentials than others, none
demands by electrical airconditioning can claim to utilize an energy
devices, may pose a serious threat to source that is routinely
water supply in the region. discarded in day-to-day
Furthermore, across Europe, summer functioning of our society. An
droughts are projected to be more important feature to be taken
severe, limiting the availability of into account when assessing the
cooling water and thus reducing the efficiency of district heating and
efficiency of thermal power plants.32 cooling is that, unlike other
energy options, the main energy
In cogeneration a large proportion of savings occur upstream of
the heat that would have required energy delivery to buildings.
cooling is transferred into the district
heating network. This surplus heat can
also be used to drive cooling equipment
in district cooling systems. Although
water is needed within the network it
circulates in a closed circuit.
 Annex: DHC-Fundamental idea I 33

With this approach, it is the

primary energy savings achieved
throughout the whole system
that is crucial, not how an energy
technology performs on a
specific point in the energy chain.

Here, a potential contradiction comes to

light between the achievement of net
energy savings per individual building
(e.g. through insulation) and low
primary energy input into an entire built
district (e.g. by means of a low resource
energy solution). Under the given
market conditions these goals might
enter into competition, both from the
points of view of energy efficiency as
well as cost-effectiveness.33
To allow a true comparability of the
performance of energy technologies,
district heating and cooling favours a
whole system approach towards energy
utilization. Most approaches nowadays
tend to be fragmented in looking only at
either supply or demand sides, entailing
the risks of inconsistencies and an
inablility to deliver true system
optimization. On the contrary, district
heating and cooling prompts a
comprehensive view of the entire
energy cycle from generation, through
conversion, to distribution to the final
customer. By applying ‘primary
resource factors’ the efficiency of a
solution from primary energy input
towards end-use is fully revealed.
34 I

Notes
1 European Commission, The Renewable 15 Euroheat & Power, District Heating and
Energy Progress Report, COM(2009) 192 & Cooling Country by Country Survey, 2009
European Environmental Agency (EEA),
16 Swedish District Heating Association
Energy and environment report, 2008.
Electricity and heat production account for 17 Summerheat project (EIE/06/194), Final
27% of total European Union greenhouse gas Publishable Report, www.summerheat.net.
emissions (2005). Calculations show that this system, expected
to satisfy 22 GWh of cooling demand, will
2 European Commission, The Renewable
reduce electricity consumption by 80% and
Energy Progress Report
avoid 3,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year.
3 European Construction Technology Platform
18 Ecoheatcool
4 European heat and cold market study
19 Ecoheatcool (EIE/04/110)
‘Ecoheatcool’ (EIE/04/110), 2005,
www.ecoheatcool.org 20 Benefits based on calculations made in
Ecoheatcool
5 Figures quoted in section based on
Ecoheatcool, relates to 2005 data, covers EU 21 European Commission, Andris Piebalgs,
27, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Croatia and SPEECH/08/576
Turkey 22 At 2008 trends less than 0.5% of buildings is
6 Ecoheatcool & Capital Cooling demolished yearly and less than 1% reno-
vated, the buildings turnover being lower than
7 International Energy Agency (IEA), World
2% per year. Even if the process is acceler-
Energy Outlook: Global Energy Trends to
ated it would take around 50 years to update
2030, 2008
all buildings in a meaningful way. (European
8 Ecoheatcool Parliament ‘Future Energy Systems in
Europe’, 2008 STOA)
9 European Commission, Commission Staff
Working Document, Second Strategic Energy 23 EEA, Energy and environment report
Review, An EU Energy Security and Solidarity
24 EEA, Energy and environment report
Action Plan, COM(2008)744
25 Based on European Parliament Resolution
10 European Parliament resolution of 3
Second Strategic Energy Review
February 2009 on the Second Strategic
Energy Review, 2008/2239(INI) 26 Figure based on Ecoheatcool. Example year
of 2003, covering covers EU 27, Iceland,
11 Many sensitive customers for whom a
Norway, Switzerland, Croatia and Turkey
continuous heat and cold supply is a
prerequisite are effectively connected to 27 Ecoheatcool & EEA Energy and environment
district heating and cooling. Fall-out rates in report
modern system are lower than with other 28 EEA, Energy and environment report, 2005
energy solutions. data
12 For 2020: European Commission, Second 29 Ecoheatcool & Capital Cooling
Strategic Energy Review & For 2030: EEA,
Energy and environment report 30 EEA, Energy and environment report

13 Based on Ecoheatcool and IEA statistics, 31 Summerheat project

update by Prof. Sven Werner, Halmstad 32 EEA, Energy and environment report. This
University comes down to about 80.000 million m3/per
14 Based on Ecoheatcool and IEA statistics, year
update by Prof. Sven Werner, Halmstad 33 Ramboll, Heat Plan Denmark, 2008
University. Waste also has a renewable
component. While different shares of
renewables in waste exist throughout • Figure page 10: Prof. Sven Werner, Halmstad
countries, the Europe-wide average is University. Based on IEA statistics.
approximately 50% (Confederation of Developments partly reflect improved
European Waste-to-Energy Plants (CEWEP)). statistics.
On renewables in Europe: European
• Figure page 11: Capital Cooling
Commission, Second Strategic Energy
Review • Figure page 13: Swedish District Heating
Association
• Image page 16: A2A, Brescia plant
36 I

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