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It is in the DNA of district heating (DH) systems that low temperatures are crucial for efficiency, guaranteeing cost competitiveness and integrating alternative heat sources. The general conviction within the DH community is, that reduced temperatures have positive effects for the whole system and economic benefits can be expected. However, there is a lack in evidence-based data to evaluate these effects in monetary terms. The innovative approach of this work is to analyze key characteristics for different technologies by means of energy-economic assessments to show evidence-based energy-related and monetary benefits of reduced system temperatures. The proven benefits should increase the motivation and conviction of utilities and customers in low-temperature systems, both for reducing system temperatures in existing networks and for new networks. The key indicator cost reduction gradient (CRG), introduced in previous work, was applied for the energy-economic assessment of reduced system temperatures. In total, investigations of nine heat generation technologies, the DH network itself and four storage types are presented. The CRGs for the heat generation technologies varies from 0.08 to 0.67 €/(MWh·°C). In the case of alternative heat generation technologies such as heat pumps and solar thermal, a higher sensitivity of the monetary effects compared to traditional heat generation technologies can be observed. Here, higher economic benefits and monetary savings can be expected in future DH networks.
Roman Geyer; Jürgen Krail; Benedikt Leitner; Ralf-Roman Schmidt; Paolo Leoni. Energy-economic assessment of reduced district heating system temperatures. Smart Energy 2021, 2, 100011 .
AMA StyleRoman Geyer, Jürgen Krail, Benedikt Leitner, Ralf-Roman Schmidt, Paolo Leoni. Energy-economic assessment of reduced district heating system temperatures. Smart Energy. 2021; 2 ():100011.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRoman Geyer; Jürgen Krail; Benedikt Leitner; Ralf-Roman Schmidt; Paolo Leoni. 2021. "Energy-economic assessment of reduced district heating system temperatures." Smart Energy 2, no. : 100011.
The need for decarbonization raises several questions. How can renewable energy supply for the industrial sector be realized in the long term? Furthermore, how must the existing energy system be transformed to achieve the ambitious climate targets in place? In Austria, the share of renewable energy supplying industrial energy demand currently accounts for only 45% of final energy consumption. This clearly shows that a conversion of industrial energy systems is necessary. Different ambitious perspectives for a renewable energy supply for the Austrian industrial sector are calculated for three defined scenarios (base, efficiency, transition) in this paper. In addition, corresponding requirements for the energy infrastructures are discussed. The scenario results show a range of industrial final energy consumption from 78 TWh (efficiency) to 105 TWh (transition) through decarbonizing the industrial energy supply (cf. 87 TWh in 2019). Decarbonization requires an increasing shift towards electrical energy, especially in the transition scenario, whereas in the base and efficiency scenarios, biogenic fuels play an important role. Comprehensive decarbonization and the associated substitution of energy carriers in industry pose significant challenges for the existing energy infrastructure, its expansion, and optimization.
Roman Geyer; Sophie Knöttner; Christian Diendorfer; Gerwin Drexler-Schmid; Verena Alton. 100% Renewable Energy for Austria’s Industry: Scenarios, Energy Carriers and Infrastructure Requirements. Applied Sciences 2021, 11, 1819 .
AMA StyleRoman Geyer, Sophie Knöttner, Christian Diendorfer, Gerwin Drexler-Schmid, Verena Alton. 100% Renewable Energy for Austria’s Industry: Scenarios, Energy Carriers and Infrastructure Requirements. Applied Sciences. 2021; 11 (4):1819.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRoman Geyer; Sophie Knöttner; Christian Diendorfer; Gerwin Drexler-Schmid; Verena Alton. 2021. "100% Renewable Energy for Austria’s Industry: Scenarios, Energy Carriers and Infrastructure Requirements." Applied Sciences 11, no. 4: 1819.
Temperature reduction plays a key-role in increasing the energy efficiency of existing European district heating (DH) systems and, most important, in allowing a higher and more cost-efficient integration of sustainable low-temperature sources. However, technical, economical and legal barriers hamper the necessary investments. Purpose of this study is the elaboration of business models encouraging a substantial temperature reduction in existing DH systems and enabling the transition towards the 4GDH. Particular focus is paid on solutions incentivizing the deep implementation of measures on the demand side to reduce the network return temperatures. The information collected through the review of international success stories and through interviews with stakeholders is used to derive recommendations for business models and propose new ideas for Austrian DH utilities, though the replicability in other countries is not excluded. The elaborated solutions are intended to overcome the main barriers acting in synergy on three levels: 1) customers’ engagement in fault detection and in temperature reduction; 2) financing of fault detection and optimization measures through strategic partnerships and crowdfunding platforms; 3) Energy Saving Contracting, especially (but not only) to solve the split incentive issue in rental homes.
Paolo Leoni; Roman Geyer; Ralf-Roman Schmidt. Developing innovative business models for reducing return temperatures in district heating systems: Approach and first results. Energy 2020, 195, 116963 .
AMA StylePaolo Leoni, Roman Geyer, Ralf-Roman Schmidt. Developing innovative business models for reducing return temperatures in district heating systems: Approach and first results. Energy. 2020; 195 ():116963.
Chicago/Turabian StylePaolo Leoni; Roman Geyer; Ralf-Roman Schmidt. 2020. "Developing innovative business models for reducing return temperatures in district heating systems: Approach and first results." Energy 195, no. : 116963.