Renewable Energy in District Heating Systems in China: Status and perspectives

In the fight against climate change, China’s aim is to ensure that the CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and to reach carbon neutrality by 2060. The heating sector is one of the key elements to ensure those targets are reached. Today around 95% of heating is based on coal, natural gas and oil. With energy efficiency and renewable energy changes using district heating and smart energy systems, this transition can be more cost efficient. Currently, district heating has covered approx.85% of the total heating areas in Northern China, however a deeper understanding is required to unlock the full potential of this infrastructure. In this paper we illustrate that a combination of energy refurbishment of buildings, energy efficiency using waste heat, and renewable energy sources from geothermal, bioenergy and solar thermal, can decarbonize the buildings using district heating in China. By using lower temperature 4th generation district heating, thermal energy storage and large-scale heat pumps, such systems can help integrating more renewable energy. In international and Chinese scientific literature there is a lack of research and knowledge within smart energy systems, low temperature district heating and unconventional waste heat sources. Although the sources and main infrastructures needed in the form of district heating pipe network and electricity grids exist, a deeper understanding is needed in response to the challenges regarding the geographical separation between renewable sources and demanding area as well as the potential for deeper renovation of buildings and further expansion of district heating. Such knowledge is required to support the early signs of policies changing towards stronger focuses on energy efficiency and renewable energy.