District heating: the key to decarbonising Europe’s heating
District heating (DH) systems are one of the most energy efficient heating systems in urban environments, with proven reliability within many decades already. District heating systems are identified as key systems to achieve the de-carbonization of heating energy in European Cities. Renewable and waste heat sources are foreseen at the same time as decarbonized heat sources and the way to guarantee competitive energy costs with limited influence of fossil fuel supply price volatility. To achieve this, a transition is needed in DHs, comprising not only measures to improve overall performance (temperature level reductions, improvement of substations, etc.), but to guarantee system viability as a whole in a context of reduced heat loads with the transition to Near Zero Energy Buildings [...]