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Roadblocks to Low Temperature District Heating

Author

Listed:
  • Michael-Allan Millar

    (James Watt School of Engineering, James Watt Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK)

  • Bruce Elrick

    (Hoare Lea, Highlander House, Glasgow G2 7DA, UK)

  • Greg Jones

    (Hoare Lea, Highlander House, Glasgow G2 7DA, UK)

  • Zhibin Yu

    (James Watt School of Engineering, James Watt Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK)

  • Neil M. Burnside

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, James Weir Building, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XQ, UK)

Abstract

Energy usage in buildings is coming increasingly under the spotlight as carbon policy focus shifts towards the utilization of thermal energy. In the UK, heating and hot water accounts for around 40% of energy consumption and 20% of greenhouse gas emissions. Heating is typically produced onsite, making widescale carbon or energetic improvements challenging. District heating networks (DHNs) can offer significant carbon reduction for many users but can only be implemented if the end user buildings have good thermal energy efficiency. This greatly limits the ability to implement advancing 4th and 5th generation DHNs, which are the most advanced systems available. We elucidate the current state of thermal efficiency in buildings in the UK and provide recommendations for necessary building requirements and modifications in order to accommodate 4th and 5th generation district heating. We conclude that key sectors must be addressed including creating a skilled workforce, producing relevant metrics and benchmarks, and providing financial support for early stage design exploration.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael-Allan Millar & Bruce Elrick & Greg Jones & Zhibin Yu & Neil M. Burnside, 2020. "Roadblocks to Low Temperature District Heating," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-21, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:22:p:5893-:d:443615
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Guo, Yurun & Wang, Shugang & Wang, Jihong & Zhang, Tengfei & Ma, Zhenjun & Jiang, Shuang, 2024. "Key district heating technologies for building energy flexibility: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PB).
    2. 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.
    3. Angelidis, O. & Ioannou, A. & Friedrich, D. & Thomson, A. & Falcone, G., 2023. "District heating and cooling networks with decentralised energy substations: Opportunities and barriers for holistic energy system decarbonisation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    4. Lund, Henrik & Østergaard, Poul Alberg & Nielsen, Tore Bach & Werner, Sven & Thorsen, Jan Eric & Gudmundsson, Oddgeir & Arabkoohsar, Ahmad & Mathiesen, Brian Vad, 2021. "Perspectives on fourth and fifth generation district heating," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).

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