Integrating low temperature renewables in district energy systems: In-country scoping report China

Heating is the largest energy end-use sector, accounting for over 50% of global final energy consumption worldwide. Most of this energy is generated by burning fossil fuels, which makes the sector an important contributor of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. District heating and cooling (DHC) systems have emerged as an efficient way of supplying heating and cooling to buildings. On average, globally, the share of renewable energy in DHC systems is about 8%. Biomass has been the easiest renewable energy source to be integrated in DHC systems. The evolution of more energy efficient buildings has led to the development of the 4th generation of DHC systems. These systems are expected to facilitate the integration of low-temperature renewable energy sources such as geothermal and solar thermal in combination with heat pump technology, waste heat, etc. into space heating.
In the framework of the Energy Solutions for Cities of the Future project, a project supported by Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI) and that promotes the decarbonisation of energy systems in cities, IRENA organises a workshop in China under the umbrella of the Global Geothermal Alliance. The workshop aims to promote the application of locally available renewable energy sources, including geothermal, in district energy networks with a focus on medium-size cities or districts (population between 30,000 and 1 million). The workshop aims to increase the knowledge of policy makers at the national and local levels, urban planners, utilities, etc., on the options and available tools to facilitate the integration of low-temperature renewable energy sources such as geothermal and solar thermal in district energy networks. The workshop builds on IRENA’s upcoming publication, a guidebook for policy-makers on “Integrating low-temperature renewables in district energy systems”, which is being developed in collaboration with Aalborg University and with the support of an advisory group of district heating and cooling practitioners. The key topics addressed in the guidebook include strategic planning for heating and cooling; challenges and solutions for integration of renewables into existing or new buildings and networks; and enabling regulatory conditions, business models, and financing.
This report is a complement to the workshop and aims to document the status and perspectives of DHC systems in China, including considerations about the integration of low-temperature renewable energy sources.
The first section presents information regarding the status of DHC in China. The second section addresses the perspectives for the different renewable energy sources and waste heat recovery that can be applied in DHC systems in China. The third section reviews the existing national legislative frameworks and national targets. The conclusive section sums up the main barriers, opportunities and perspectives for DHC in China.