European Commission: a guide to innovative district heating and cooling solutions.

Under the umbrella of the European Commission’s Smart Cities Marketplace initiative, a comprehensive solution booklet on district heating and cooling has been released.

According to Eurostat, the share of renewable energy sources for heating and cooling in the EU stands at about 25%. This means that a staggering 75% still comes from fossil fuels. Although district heating networks have been operational for over a century in some cases, more energy-efficient and sustainable district cooling and heating systems are required.

 

The solution booklet presents an overview of state-of-the-art technologies. Modern, fourth-generation heating systems can operate at lower temperatures (typically around 50 - 60°C), resulting in reduced heat loss compared to previous generations. Case studies integrating waste heat recovery are also presented in the booklet. With the use of technologies such as heat pumps or absorption chillers, the integration of both heating and cooling networks is made possible.

 

The authors underline that existing building stock conditions must be carefully assessed to design a district heating and cooling network and to select the technologies to be used. Indeed, last-generation low temperature systems are best suited to low-demand, energy-efficient buildings. Consequently, district heating and cooling projects require significant upfront investments.

 

The solution booklet covers regulatory frameworks and business models, and outlines decision-making processes needed to successfully implement a district heating and cooling project.

 

For more information, download the booklet here.