IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v62y2016icp621-639.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

District heating and cogeneration in the EU-28: Current situation, potential and proposed energy strategy for its generalisation

Author

Listed:
  • Colmenar-Santos, Antonio
  • Rosales-Asensio, Enrique
  • Borge-Diez, David
  • Blanes-Peiró, Jorge-Juan

Abstract

Yearly, EU-28 conventional thermal generating plants reject a greater amount of energy than what ultimately is utilised by residential and commercial loads for heating and hot water. If this waste heat were to be used through district heating networks, given a previous energy valorisation, there would be a noticeable decrease in imported fossil fuels for heating. As a consequence, benefits in the form of an energy efficiency increase, an energy security improvement, and a minimisation of emitted greenhouse gases would occur. Given that it is not expected for heat demand to decrease significantly in the medium term, district heating networks show the greatest potential for the development of cogeneration. However, to make this happen, some barriers that are far from being technological but are mostly institutional and financial need to be removed. The purpose of this review is to provide information on the potential of using waste heat from conventional thermal power plants (subsequently converted into cogeneration plants) in district heating networks located in the EU-28. For this, a preliminary assessment is conducted in order to show an estimate of the cost of adopting an energy strategy in which district heating networks are a major player of the energy mix. From this assessment, it is possible to see that even though the energy strategy proposed in this paper, which is based on a dramatic increase in the joint use of district heating networks and cogeneration, is capital-intensive and would require an annual investment of roughly 300 billion euros, its adoption would result in a reduction of yearly fuel expenses in the order of 100 billion euros and a shortening of about 15% of the total final energy consumption, which makes it of paramount interest as an enabler of the legal basis of the “Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy” future enacted by the EU-28 Horizon 2020.

Suggested Citation

  • Colmenar-Santos, Antonio & Rosales-Asensio, Enrique & Borge-Diez, David & Blanes-Peiró, Jorge-Juan, 2016. "District heating and cogeneration in the EU-28: Current situation, potential and proposed energy strategy for its generalisation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 621-639.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:62:y:2016:i:c:p:621-639
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2016.05.004
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032116301149
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2016.05.004?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Colmenar-Santos, Antonio & Rosales-Asensio, Enrique & Borge-Diez, David & Collado-Fernández, Eduardo, 2016. "Evaluation of the cost of using power plant reject heat in low-temperature district heating and cooling networks," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 892-907.
    2. Bordin, Chiara & Gordini, Angelo & Vigo, Daniele, 2016. "An optimization approach for district heating strategic network design," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 252(1), pages 296-307.
    3. Fahlén, E. & Ahlgren, E.O., 2010. "Accounting for external costs in a study of a Swedish district-heating system - An assessment of environmental policies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(9), pages 4909-4920, September.
    4. Köfinger, M. & Basciotti, D. & Schmidt, R.R. & Meissner, E. & Doczekal, C. & Giovannini, A., 2016. "Low temperature district heating in Austria: Energetic, ecologic and economic comparison of four case studies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 95-104.
    5. Gaigalis, Vygandas & Markevicius, Antanas & Katinas, Vladislovas & Skema, Romualdas & Tumosa, Algis, 2013. "Analysis of energy transition possibilities after the decommission of a nuclear power plant in Ignalina region in Lithuania," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 45-56.
    6. Streimikiene, Dalia & Ciegis, Remigijus & Grundey, Dainora, 2008. "Promotion of energy efficiency in Lithuania," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 772-789, April.
    7. Pantaleo, Antonio & Candelise, Chiara & Bauen, Ausilio & Shah, Nilay, 2014. "ESCO business models for biomass heating and CHP: Profitability of ESCO operations in Italy and key factors assessment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 237-253.
    8. Wu, Wei & Wang, Baolong & Shi, Wenxing & Li, Xianting, 2014. "An overview of ammonia-based absorption chillers and heat pumps," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 681-707.
    9. Allegrini, Jonas & Orehounig, Kristina & Mavromatidis, Georgios & Ruesch, Florian & Dorer, Viktor & Evins, Ralph, 2015. "A review of modelling approaches and tools for the simulation of district-scale energy systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 1391-1404.
    10. Ziemele, Jelena & Pakere, Ieva & Blumberga, Dagnija, 2016. "The future competitiveness of the non-Emissions Trading Scheme district heating systems in the Baltic States," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1579-1585.
    11. Zimny, Jacek & Michalak, Piotr & Szczotka, Krzysztof, 2015. "Polish heat pump market between 2000 and 2013: European background, current state and development prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 791-812.
    12. Lowe, Robert, 2011. "Combined heat and power considered as a virtual steam cycle heat pump," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(9), pages 5528-5534, September.
    13. Colmenar-Santos, Antonio & Rosales-Asensio, Enrique & Borge-Diez, David & Mur-Pérez, Francisco, 2015. "Cogeneration and district heating networks: Measures to remove institutional and financial barriers that restrict their joint use in the EU-28," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 403-414.
    14. Srikhirin, Pongsid & Aphornratana, Satha & Chungpaibulpatana, Supachart, 2001. "A review of absorption refrigeration technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 5(4), pages 343-372, December.
    15. Gils, Hans Christian & Cofala, Janusz & Wagner, Fabian & Schöpp, Wolfgang, 2013. "GIS-based assessment of the district heating potential in the USA," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 318-329.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Cambini, Carlo & Congiu, Raffaele & Jamasb, Tooraj & Llorca, Manuel & Soroush, Golnoush, 2020. "Energy Systems Integration: Implications for public policy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    2. Tomasz Jeleński & Marta Dendys & Barbara Tomaszewska & Leszek Pająk, 2020. "The Potential of RES in the Reduction of Air Pollution: The SWOT Analysis of Smart Energy Management Solutions for Krakow Functional Area (KrOF)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-26, April.
    3. Sandberg, Eli & Sneum, Daniel Møller & Trømborg, Erik, 2018. "Framework conditions for Nordic district heating - Similarities and differences, and why Norway sticks out," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 105-119.
    4. Borna Doračić & Tomislav Novosel & Tomislav Pukšec & Neven Duić, 2018. "Evaluation of Excess Heat Utilization in District Heating Systems by Implementing Levelized Cost of Excess Heat," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-14, March.
    5. Wendel, Frank & Blesl, Markus & Brodecki, Lukasz & Hufendiek, Kai, 2022. "Expansion or decommission? – Transformation of existing district heating networks by reducing temperature levels in a cost-optimum network design," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    6. Colmenar-Santos, Antonio & Molina-Ibáñez, Enrique-Luis & Rosales-Asensio, Enrique & López-Rey, África, 2018. "Technical approach for the inclusion of superconducting magnetic energy storage in a smart city," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 1080-1091.
    7. Paiho, Satu & Saastamoinen, Heidi, 2018. "How to develop district heating in Finland?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 668-676.
    8. Pieper, Henrik & Krupenski, Igor & Brix Markussen, Wiebke & Ommen, Torben & Siirde, Andres & Volkova, Anna, 2021. "Method of linear approximation of COP for heat pumps and chillers based on thermodynamic modelling and off-design operation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    9. Møller Sneum, Daniel & Sandberg, Eli & Koduvere, Hardi & Olsen, Ole Jess & Blumberga, Dagnija, 2018. "Policy incentives for flexible district heating in the Baltic countries," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 61-72.
    10. Alessandro Guzzini & Marco Pellegrini & Edoardo Pelliconi & Cesare Saccani, 2020. "Low Temperature District Heating: An Expert Opinion Survey," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-34, February.
    11. Serafeim Moustakidis & Ioannis Meintanis & George Halikias & Nicos Karcanias, 2019. "An Innovative Control Framework for District Heating Systems: Conceptualisation and Preliminary Results," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-15, January.
    12. Olgierd Niemyjski & Ryszard Zwierzchowski, 2021. "Impact of Water Temperature Changes on Water Loss Monitoring in Large District Heating Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-19, April.
    13. Paredes-Sánchez, J.P. & Míguez, J.L. & Blanco, D. & Rodríguez, M.A. & Collazo, J., 2019. "Assessment of micro-cogeneration network in European mining areas: A prototype system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 350-358.
    14. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Martiskainen, Mari, 2020. "Hot transformations: Governing rapid and deep household heating transitions in China, Denmark, Finland and the United Kingdom," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    15. Franco, Alessandro & Versace, Michele, 2017. "Optimum sizing and operational strategy of CHP plant for district heating based on the use of composite indicators," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 258-271.
    16. Volpe, R. & Catrini, P. & Piacentino, A. & Fichera, A., 2022. "An agent-based model to support the preliminary design and operation of heating and power grids with cogeneration units and photovoltaic panels in densely populated areas," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PB).
    17. Holzleitner, Marie & Moser, Simon & Puschnigg, Stefan, 2020. "Evaluation of the impact of the new Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001 on third-party access to district heating networks to enforce the feed-in of industrial waste heat," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    18. Soltero, V.M. & Quirosa, Gonzalo & Peralta, M.E. & Chacartegui, Ricardo & Torres, Miguel, 2022. "A biomass universal district heating model for sustainability evaluation for geographical areas with early experience," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    19. Pietro Catrini & Tancredi Testasecca & Alessandro Buscemi & Antonio Piacentino, 2022. "Exergoeconomics as a Cost-Accounting Method in Thermal Grids with the Presence of Renewable Energy Producers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-27, March.
    20. Martinopoulos, Georgios & Papakostas, Konstantinos T. & Papadopoulos, Agis M., 2018. "A comparative review of heating systems in EU countries, based on efficiency and fuel cost," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 687-699.
    21. Bartolozzi, Irene & Rizzi, Francesco & Frey, Marco, 2017. "Are district heating systems and renewable energy sources always an environmental win-win solution? A life cycle assessment case study in Tuscany, Italy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 408-420.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sayegh, M.A. & Danielewicz, J. & Nannou, T. & Miniewicz, M. & Jadwiszczak, P. & Piekarska, K. & Jouhara, H., 2017. "Trends of European research and development in district heating technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P2), pages 1183-1192.
    2. Valerie Eveloy & Dereje S. Ayou, 2019. "Sustainable District Cooling Systems: Status, Challenges, and Future Opportunities, with Emphasis on Cooling-Dominated Regions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-64, January.
    3. Lizana, Jesús & Ortiz, Carlos & Soltero, Víctor M. & Chacartegui, Ricardo, 2017. "District heating systems based on low-carbon energy technologies in Mediterranean areas," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 397-416.
    4. Wu, Xi & Xu, Shiming & Jiang, Mengnan, 2018. "Development of bubble absorption refrigeration technology: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3468-3482.
    5. Mohammadi, Mohammad & Noorollahi, Younes & Mohammadi-ivatloo, Behnam & Yousefi, Hossein, 2017. "Energy hub: From a model to a concept – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1512-1527.
    6. Verschelde, Tars & D'haeseleer, William, 2021. "Methodology for a global sensitivity analysis with machine learning on an energy system planning model in the context of thermal networks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    7. Soltero, V.M. & Chacartegui, R. & Ortiz, C. & Velázquez, R., 2016. "Evaluation of the potential of natural gas district heating cogeneration in Spain as a tool for decarbonisation of the economy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(P3), pages 1513-1532.
    8. Scapino, Luca & Zondag, Herbert A. & Van Bael, Johan & Diriken, Jan & Rindt, Camilo C.M., 2017. "Energy density and storage capacity cost comparison of conceptual solid and liquid sorption seasonal heat storage systems for low-temperature space heating," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 1314-1331.
    9. Werner, Sven, 2017. "International review of district heating and cooling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 617-631.
    10. Scapino, Luca & Zondag, Herbert A. & Van Bael, Johan & Diriken, Jan & Rindt, Camilo C.M., 2017. "Sorption heat storage for long-term low-temperature applications: A review on the advancements at material and prototype scale," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 920-948.
    11. Ziemele, Jelena & Talcis, Normunds & Osis, Ugis & Dace, Elina, 2021. "A methodology for selecting a sustainable development strategy for connecting low heat density consumers to a district heating system by cascading of heat carriers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    12. Ziemele, Jelena & Gravelsins, Armands & Blumberga, Andra & Blumberga, Dagnija, 2017. "Combining energy efficiency at source and at consumer to reach 4th generation district heating: Economic and system dynamics analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 595-606.
    13. Abed, Azher M. & Alghoul, M.A. & Sopian, K. & Majdi, Hasan Sh. & Al-Shamani, Ali Najah & Muftah, A.F., 2017. "Enhancement aspects of single stage absorption cooling cycle: A detailed review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 1010-1045.
    14. Østergaard, Poul Alberg & Andersen, Anders N., 2016. "Booster heat pumps and central heat pumps in district heating," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 1374-1388.
    15. Sui, Yunren & Wu, Wei, 2023. "Ionic liquid screening and performance optimization of transcritical carbon dioxide absorption heat pump enhanced by expander," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    16. Calise, Francesco & Cappiello, Francesco Liberato & Cimmino, Luca & Dentice d’Accadia, Massimo & Vicidomini, Maria, 2023. "A comparative thermoeconomic analysis of fourth generation and fifth generation district heating and cooling networks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    17. Wu, Wei & Shi, Wenxing & Wang, Jian & Wang, Baolong & Li, Xianting, 2016. "Experimental investigation on NH3–H2O compression-assisted absorption heat pump (CAHP) for low temperature heating under lower driving sources," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 258-271.
    18. Zhai, Chong & Wu, Wei & Coronas, Alberto, 2021. "Membrane-based absorption cooling and heating: Development and perspectives," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 663-688.
    19. Schweiger, Gerald & Larsson, Per-Ola & Magnusson, Fredrik & Lauenburg, Patrick & Velut, Stéphane, 2017. "District heating and cooling systems – Framework for Modelica-based simulation and dynamic optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 566-578.
    20. Groissböck, Markus, 2019. "Are open source energy system optimization tools mature enough for serious use?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 234-248.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:62:y:2016:i:c:p:621-639. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.