Development schemes for new district heating developments

How can low-temperature concepts be applied in new urban developments? Check out this set of guidelines based on best practices as most new urban development areas are different about visions, DH network topology, temperature levels, buildings installations, tariff structure, management etc.

How can low-temperature concepts be applied in new urban developments? The RELaTED Task 2.5 describes a set of guidelines that are, in general terms, based on best practices as most new urban development areas are different concerning visions, DH network topology, temperature levels, buildings installations, tariff structure, management etc.

The RELaTED report (D2.5) describes a set of guidelines for how low-temperature concepts can be applied in new urban developments. This document is one of the various RELaTED reports describing low-temperature concepts from different perspectives.

The guidelines are in general terms, based on best practices as most new urban development areas are different concerning visions, DH network topology, temperature levels, buildings installations, tariff structure, management etc. In Annex 1 an example from Vinge, Denmark is used to illustrating and detailing some paragraphs of the report.

The guidelines are concerning the following topics:

  • Strategic and integrated energy planning for new developments areas.
  • What are the vision and the strategy for the development of the DH system and how is it integrated into the overall planning of the development area.
  • For the DH supplier, the economic focus is on investments, operation expenses and how this compares to the possible income from heat sales.
  • For the customer, this can be in the relation to which heat source is chosen for a new building or concerning the energy costs.
  • The impact on society will rely on a socio-economic analysis.
  • The possible topology of a future DH network will have an impact on whether the heat sources will be individual, decentralized DH system or centralized DH system. Pros and cons are considered for these systems.
  • The scenarios when the development process lasts over a longer period of time and how the energy demand will rise as more buildings are erected which might require other energy resources over time.

Appropriate implementing measures, which include the delivery conditions as well as the technical building systems specifications for ULT DH, are considered. Tariffs and building regulation integration can support the concept as well

Project developments will cover which parties have which responsibilities in the process, how the information flow affects the process, the need for support and follow up in the process.

The guidelines will be used in the succeeding work packages of RELaTED to investigate further the architecture of the ULT concept.

The guidelines will be used in the succeeding work packages of RELaTED to investigate further the architecture of the ULT concept (WP2), design and adaption of subsystems to facilitate the use of distributed energy resources (WP3), analyse the economic feasibility and business case (WP4) and prepare and conduct demonstrations (WP5), of the RELaTED project.