The role of district heating in decarbonising the EU energy system and a comparison with existing strategies

David Connolly, Henrik Lund, Brian Vad Mathiesen, Bernd Möller, Poul Alberg Østergaard, Steffen Nielsen, Sven Werner, Urban Persson, Daniel Trier

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceeding › Article in proceeding › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

Many strategies have already been proposed for the decarbonisation of the EU energy system by the year 2050. These typically focus on the expansion of renewable energy in the electricity sector and subsequently, electrifying both the heat and transport sectors as much as possible. In these strategies, the role of district heating has never been fully explored system, nor have the benefits of district heating been quantified at the EU level. This study combines the mapping of local heat demands and local heat supplies across the EU27. Using this local knowledge, new district heating potentials are identified and then, the EU27 energy system is modelled to investigate the impact of district heating. The results indicate that a combination of heat savings, district heating in urban areas, and individual heat pumps in rural areas will enable the EU27 to reach its greenhouse gas emission targets by 2050, but at a cheaper price than a scenario which focuses primarily on the implementation of heat savings.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationBook of Abstracts: 8th CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY, WATER AND ENVIRONMENT SYSTEMS
Publication date2013
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Event8th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems - Dubrovnik, Croatia
Duration: 22 Sept 2013 → 27 Sept 2013
http://www.dubrovnik2013.sdewes.org/

Conference

Conference8th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems
Country/TerritoryCroatia
CityDubrovnik
Period22/09/2013 → 27/09/2013
Internet address

Keywords

  • Europe
  • district heating
  • renewable energy
  • mapping
  • modelling
  • Energy systems analysis

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    • HRE2: Heat Roadmap Europe 2

      Connolly, D. (Project Participant), Mathiesen, B. V. (Project Participant), Østergaard, P. A. (Project Participant), Möller, B. (Project Participant), Nielsen, S. (Project Participant), Lund, H. (Project Participant), Persson, U. (Project Participant), Werner, S. (Project Participant), Grözinger, J. (Project Participant), Boermans, T. (Project Participant), Bosquet, M. (Project Participant) & Trier, D. (Project Participant)

      03/09/2012 → 31/05/2013

      Project: Research

    • HRE1: Heat Roadmap Europe 1

      Connolly, D. (Project Participant), Mathiesen, B. V. (Project Participant), Østergaard, P. A. (Project Participant), Möller, B. (Project Participant), Nielsen, S. (Project Participant), Lund, H. (Project Participant), Persson, U. (Project Participant), Nilsson, D. (Project Participant), Werner, S. (Project Participant) & Trier, D. (Project Participant)

      02/01/2012 → 31/05/2012

      Project: Research

    • 4DH – Strategic Research Centre for 4th Generation District Heating Technologies and Systems

      Lund, H. (Project Participant), Mathiesen, B. V. (Project Participant), Østergaard, P. A. (Project Participant), Möller, B. (Project Participant), Hvelplund, F. (Project Participant), Mohammadi, S. (Project Participant), Sorknæs, P. (Project Participant), Djørup, S. R. (Project Participant) & Bojesen, C. (Project Participant)

      01/01/2012 → 31/12/2017

      Project: Research

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