Work

A spatially-explicit method for generating prospective district heating scenarios

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: A dynamic literature studies how intensifying the coupling between energy vectors can significantly reduce the decarbonisation cost of economies. In particular, District Heating Networks (DHNs) seem to constitute a powerful lever to decarbonise the heating supply and provide flexibility to power systems soon to be dominated by solar and wind production. However, these results are based on DHN scenarios whose underlying assumptions are rarely detailed: the proposed production mix may be uncoherent with heat sources' spatial distribution and their temporal or economic constraints. This article proposes a method for generating large-scale district heating development scenarios based on geographical data. The main inputs used to project DHN development are: spatial datasets of heat demand, spatial datasets of local low-carbon heating sources, spatial datasets of existing DHNs associated with corresponding supplied energy, and representative DHN cases. Considering these inputs constrains the potential DHN mix, providing more realistic scenarios with the possibility to explore contrasted development paths. As a case study, the method is applied to European Union countries and the United Kingdom (EU27+UK) for 2050.

Source: Energy

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.133902

Authors: Maxime Vrain, Virginie Dussartre, Nicolas Lhuillier, Robin Girard

Institutions: Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, Centre Procédés, Energies Renouvelables et Systèmes Energétiques, École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris

Language: English

Topic: Integrated Energy Systems Optimization

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Climate action, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,140