Performance analysis of hybrid district heating system

District heating system could contribute to more efficient heat generation through cogeneration power plants or waste heat utilization facilities and to increase of renewable energy sources share in total energy consumption. In the most developed EU countries, renewable energy sources have been more extensively used in district heating systems either separately or as a supplement to traditional fossil fuels in order to achieve national energy policy objectives. However, they are still facing problems such as high intermittences, high energy production costs and low load factors as well as problems related to transportation, storage and environmental impacts of biomass and waste utilisation. Implementation of heat storages in district heating systems could contribute to integration of intermittent energy sources.

Hybridisation of heat production facility combines two or more different energy sources that can complement each other on daily and yearly basis and reduce negative aspects of particular energy source utilisation. In district heating systems, hybridisation could be performed through utilisation of renewable and non-renewable energy sources. Potential of fuel and emission reduction could reach up to 20% with utilisation of solar energy as supplement energy source in traditional fossil fuel based district heating systems.

In this work, the performance of hybrid district energy system for a particular location will be analysed. For performance analysis, mathematical model that combines different energy sources for heat production will be used. The work has been carried out in scope of 4th Generation District Heating Technologies and Systems project.