Table of Contents

Introduction

This calculation module uses the European heat density map (EHDM) and a European gross floor area map (EGFAM), both of which were developed in course of the Hotmaps project, to propose a GIS-based method for determining potential DH areas with specific focus on district heating (DH) grid costs. The DH areas are determined via performing sensitivity analyses on the EHDM under consideration of predefined upper bound of the average distribution costs. The approach additionally allows for estimation of length and diameter of transmission lines and their associated costs. The outputs are GIS layers that illustrate areas that are economically viable for construction of DH as well as the cost-minimal transmission lines connecting these regions to each other. The calculation module can be used to study the impact of parameters like grid costs ceiling and market share on potential and on expansion and extension of the DH systems.

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Inputs and outputs

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Method

Here, a brief explanation of methodology is provided. For a more complete explanation of the methodology and formulations, please to the paper published about this calculation module [1].

The aim of the calculation module is to find regions in which DH system can be built without exceeding a user-defined average specific cost ceiling in EUR/MWh. This is done under following assumptions:

  • The economic DH area with highest heat demand is considered as the only available heat source. It produces the heat for itself and all other economic coherent areas.
  • between two DH areas, heat can flow in one direction,
  • the annual DH demand is considered to remain constant after the last year of investment period
  • market share or energy saving has the same percentages within cells of a DH area and also within different DH areas.

The determination of economic DH areas is done in three steps.

STEP 1: Calculation of distribution grid costs based on heat demand and plot ratio using EHDM and EGFAM

STEP 2: Determination of potential DH areas

STEP 3: Determination of economic DH areas and transmission line capacities and configuration required to connect these areas to each other.

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GitHub repository of this calculation module

Here you get the bleeding-edge development for this calculation module.

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Sample run

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Test Run 1: default input values

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Test Run 2: modified input values

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References

[1]. Fallahnejad M, Hartner M, Kranzl L, Fritz S. Impact of distribution and transmission investment costs of district heating systems on district heating potential. Energy Procedia 2018;149:141–50. doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2018.08.178.

How to cite

Mostafa Fallahnejad, in Hotmaps-Wiki, https://github.com/HotMaps/hotmaps_wiki/wiki/CM-District-heating-grid-costs (April 2019)

Authors and reviewers

This page is written by Mostafa Fallahnejad*.

  • [ ] This page was reviewed by Lukas Kranzl*.

* Energy Economics Group - TU Wien Institute of Energy Systems and Electrical Drives Gusshausstrasse 27-29/370 1040 Wien

License

Copyright © 2016-2019: Mostafa Fallahnejad

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 International License.

SPDX-License-Identifier: CC-BY-4.0

License-Text: https://spdx.org/licenses/CC-BY-4.0.html

Acknowledgement

We would like to convey our deepest appreciation to the Horizon 2020 Hotmaps Project (Grant Agreement number 723677), which provided the funding to carry out the present investigation.

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