Publications – RELaTED Project

New posibilities for ultra-low temperature district heating in corporate district heating networks

Olga Macias, researcher in the field of energy eficiency in buildings in Tecnalia, explains the intervention developed by the RELaTED project in the demonstration site of Iurreta (Spain), in order to test the posibilites of the ultra-low temperature district heating systems in a corporate building complex. Tecnalia coordinates the RELaTED project which aims to develop an innovative concept of desentralized ultra-low temperature district heating networks. This new concept will be tested in four demonstrations sites, in Denmark, Serbia, Estonia and Spain. The Spanish project is located in Iurreta, in the North of Spain. This site is a policial base owned by the Department of Security of the Basque Goverment. The based consists on a total of thirteen buildings with diferent [...]

webmaster2020-03-12T15:11:42+00:00March 12th, 2020|Publications, Videos|

Metering and billing of consumption in ultra-low temperature district heating systems

In general, metering of district heating consumption in ultra-low temperature district heating (ULT DH) systems is not different from traditional district heating. However, when electricity is used to boost DHW temperature, this share of the DHW production is no longer metered by the district heating company,or must be metered separately by an additional electricity meter. This information has been extracted from the section 5 of the document D.2.2. Interconnection schemes for consumer installations. DOWNLOAD THIS DOCUMENT HERE >> Figure 3: principle of metering in ULT DH systems with electric booster In this case, there might be different ways to bill the consumer. One option is that the consumer is just billed the district heating consumption with usual tariffs, [...]

webmaster2020-02-27T10:22:32+00:00February 27th, 2020|Public documents, Publications|

Main strategic and economic issues of ULT district heating for new development areas

The following article is resuming the main strategic and economic issues to be considered in developing new ultra-low temperature district heating (ULT DH) for new development areas. This information has been extracted from the document entitled D2.5 - Development schemes for new district heating developments. Strategic and integrated energy planning The economy of ULT DH in a new development area must be economical attractive for the company operating the scheme, for the customers and for the society. Strategic energy planning is used on municipality, regional or national level to plan the most viable way to supply and use energy over a longer time horizon. Vision A new development area is typically based on or linked to one or more visions. [...]

webmaster2020-02-19T16:10:41+00:00February 19th, 2020|Publications|

Machine Learning as a solution tool for district heating

In recent years, Machine Learning has become one of the most used techniques when modelling relationships between different parameters. Inspired by the successful integration of Machine Learning in many other areas, it is beginning to draw attention in the district heating sector as well. The application of Machine Learning in the context of district heating has an obvious potential as a component of tomorrows heating networks. Machine learning (ML) is a fast-developing tool that allows you to handle large and complex systems with many parameters and data, with different desires for efficiency. It is a branch of artificial intelligence, and defined by Computer Scientist and machine learning pioneer Tom M. Mitchell in relation to his book Machine Learning (1997) [2] [...]

webmaster2020-02-05T11:01:34+00:00February 5th, 2020|Public documents, Publications|

Watch the Integration of Industrial Waste Heat in District Heating Systems [webinar]

Do not miss the recording of the second RELaTED webinar on the Integration of Industrial Waste Heat in District Heating and learn about the role of waste heat in DHs and the RELaTED project DH concept! What’s new in District Heating Systems (DHs)? DHs have traditionally been designed to be operated with central energy production facilities and a variety of distributed consumption locations (dwellings, tertiary buildings, etc). In some cases, heat is partially obtained from local industrial waste heat streams, leading to almost de-carbonized heating energy supplies. In case you did not know about the role of waste heat in DHs, after watching this webinar you may have upskilled your knowledge about its benefits. Furthermore, the webinar allowed the [...]

webmaster2019-12-24T13:47:34+00:00December 24th, 2019|Videos|

Energy flexibility and District Heating Control

The activities carried out under the RELaTED project address the need for increased energy efficiency and new management strategies in relation to ULT DH. Installing smart meters allows for increased insight into the conditions of networks and installations and by the use of machine learning to utilize these data in new algorithms and tools. RELaTED report 2.4, which is part of a set of reports that define the system architecture of the RELaTED concept, describes new possibilities concerning measurement and control of ULT DH and other DH systems with high energy flexibility. RELaTED task 2.4 aims at developing a framework for advanced control procedures for managing and optimizing ULT DH networks based on energy consumers equipped with smart meters and [...]

webmaster2019-11-15T10:34:12+00:00October 2nd, 2019|Public documents, Publications|

VIDEO: Watch the video of RELaTED project conference at EUSEW 2019

Roberto Garay, coordinator for RELaTED project, presented the innovative tools and solutions of RELaTED at the Policy Conference of EUSEW 2019 (18-20 June in Brussels), the biggest European event dedicated to renewables and efficient energy use in Europe. Watch Roberto's conference below. RELaTED project coordinator, Roberto Garay, took part on the conference “The Green Revolution starts at home” (Thursday 20 June 11.00 – 12.30), organized by the Decarb Heat Initiative. This policy session gave a thorough overview of the heating and cooling sector in Europe with its opportunities, tools and technologies available for local, regional and national authorities. Watch the recording of this interesting session below. Organised by the European Commission and EASME, EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) is among [...]

webmaster2019-10-09T11:56:56+00:00September 1st, 2019|Publications, Videos|

Development schemes for new district heating developments

How can low temperature concepts be applied in new urban developments? The RELaTED Task 2.5 describes a set of guidelines that are, in general terms, based on best practices as most new urban development areas are different in relation to visions, DH network topology, temperature levels, buildings installations, tariff structure, management etc. […]

webmaster2019-06-20T13:48:49+00:00June 20th, 2019|Public documents, Publications|

Prevention of legionella: actions to find safe domestic hot water solutions in relation to district heating

Use of low and ultra-low DH temperatures, that proposes RELaTED project, results in an increase of the energy efficiency of the heating system. However, the low temperatures in general also increase the risk of Legionella. This emphasizes the need of finding safe Legionella solutions for the domestic hot water (DHW) production from district heating (DH). Focus has been on both large installations in multi-family houses and commercial buildings often using a storage tank for hot water, and for smaller installations in one-family houses or in each flat in newer multi-storey houses with instantaneous heating by a heat exchanger. A survey of various challenges and solutions can be found in the IEA Guidebook “Future Low Temperature District Heating Design Guidebook” from [...]

webmaster2019-09-26T12:19:47+00:00June 6th, 2019|Public documents, Publications|

Definitions of ultra-low temperature district heating

District heating companies, equipment manufacturers, consultants and researchers have discussed definitions of district heating and cooling in general, and also ultra-low temperature district heating. This inform explains the different definitions and most used terms to give the reader not familiar with district heating the background of this system and the technology options. DOWNLOAD THIS DOCUMENT >> Photo by Pixabay from Pexels In the report "Benchmark for performance levels" (C. H. Christiansen, N. Winther, Ecoheat Cities WP2-report, 2012), the following indicative temperature levels and definitions were specified: DH High Temperature System (HT), 100/50 °C DH Low Temperature System (LT), 80/40 °C DH Very Low Temperature System (VLT), 60/30 °C DH Ultra Low Temperature System (ULT), 45/30 °C District cooling [...]

webmaster2019-05-02T11:22:13+00:00May 2nd, 2019|Public documents, Publications|