Background Report on EU-27 District Heating and Cooling Potentials, Barriers, Best Practice and Measures of Promotion
Europe’s energy supply chain, from primary energy input to the end use, is characterized by enormous heat losses, corresponding to more than half of the total energy supply1. The 2008 EU27’s energy system heat losses before end use accumulated to 39.3 EJ. Valued with a current crude oil price of 97 $/barrel these heat losses would have a market value of 480 billion €2 / per year.
This report indicates that piped heat networks – district heating (DH)- fed by waste heat from electricity generation (Combined Heat and Power - CHP) and other low CO2 sources – industrial waste heat, solar thermal, biomass, geothermal, wind via direct electric element heating or heat pumps, etc, are likely to be a key component of a low carbon and more energy-secure Europe due to their efficient use of primary fuel, fuel flexibility and heat storage capabilities. This conclusion is borne out by reviewing the general literature and by a detailed cost benefit analysis (chapter 18) which shows that combined heat and power district heating - CHP-DH is the cheapest energy supply option for the 3 representative cities studied.It can also presents a significant impact on the trade balance for the EU, and a major source of indigenous employment.
However large scale CHP implementation requires a strong political dedication and political decisions should be based on assessing the entire energy system of each member state. Different solutions will be optimal in different countries.
ANDREWS David;
KROOK-RIEKKOLA Anna;
TZIMAS Evangelos;
SERPA Joana;
CARLSSON Johan;
PARDO Nicolas;
PAPAIOANNOU Ioulia;
2013-01-06
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC68846
978-92-79-23882-6 (online),
1831-9424 (online),
EUR 25289 EN,
OP LD-NA-25289-EN-N (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC68846,
10.2790/47209 (online),
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