New Solution Booklet Released for District Heating and Cooling

The Heating and Cooling Focus Group under the Smart Cities Marketplace initiative has published a comprehensive Solution Booklet on District Heating and Cooling (DHC). This effort is a result of collaboration between the RHC-ETIP and the Smart Cities Marketplace.

Half of Europe’s energy consumption is dedicated to heating and cooling, with a staggering 75% still sourced from fossil fuels. Inefficiencies in current systems lead to significant energy wastage. Modern, sustainable DHC systems present a promising avenue for decarbonizing European cities through efficient heat and cold distribution from renewable energy sources.

District heating networks, which have been operational for over a century, have evolved from high-temperature steam distribution to more efficient lower-temperature schemes. These newer systems reduce heat loss and support renewable energy integration and electricity grid compatibility. Intelligent management systems now enhance operational benefits and facilitate decentralised networks.

Globally, DHC networks have proven effective in large-scale thermal energy distribution, enabling the synergy among heat, cold, domestic hot water, and electricity production and distribution. Their deployment is expanding in various cities, driven by a variety of innovative technologies.