Book of abstracts: International Conference on Smart Energy Systems and 4th Generation District Heating: Aalborg University, Copenhagen Campus on 25-26 August 2015

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the first International Conference on Smart
Energy Systems and 4th Generation District Heating at Aalborg University, Copenhagen
Campus on 25-26 August 2015. The conference is organised by the 4DH Strategic
Research Centre in collaboration with Aalborg University and offers more than 70
presentations in 3 parallel sessions with more than 180 participants from 25 countries
around the world. The aim is to present and discuss scientific findings and industrial
experiences related to the development of Smart Energy Systems and future 4th
Generation District Heating Technologies and Systems (4GDH). This development is
fundamental to the implementation of the European 2020 goals as well as future
sustainable energy solutions in general.
The Smart Energy System approach was defined in 2011 in the CEESA project. The project
addressed Danish scenarios with a particular focus on renewable energy in the transport
system in a context with limited access to bioenergy.
The Smart Energy System concept is essential for 100% renewable energy systems to
harvest storage synergies and exploit low-value heat sources. As opposed to, for instance,
the smart grid concept, which takes a sole focus on the electricity sector, the smart
energy systems approach includes the entire energy system in its identification of suitable
energy infrastructure designs and operation strategies. Focusing solely on the smart
electricity grid often leads to the definition of transmission lines, flexible electricity
demands, and electricity storage as the primary means to dealing with the integration of
fluctuating renewable sources. However, these measures are neither very effective nor
cost-efficient considering the nature of wind power and similar sources. The most
effective and least-cost solutions are to be found when the electricity sector is combined
with the heating and cooling sectors and/or the transport sector. Moreover, the
combination of electricity and gas infrastructures may play an important role in the
design of future renewable energy systems.
In its research on low-temperature district heating, the Strategic Research Centre for 4th
Generation District Heating Technologies and Systems enhances the understanding of
supply system design, infrastructure and heat savings. In future energy systems,
combinations of low-temperature district heating resources and heat savings represent a
promising alternative to individual heating solutions and passive or energy+ buildings.
This change in the heating system also requires institutional and organisational changes
that address the implementation of new technologies and enable new markets that can
provide feasible solutions to society.
We hope you all will have a fruitful conference.
Prof. Henrik Lund and Prof. Brian Vad Mathiesen
Conference organisers