Publications – RELaTED Project

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|

VIDEO: Aventa develops an innovative solar collector system for district heating

Michaela Meir, R&D manager from Aventa and leader of work package 3 in RELaTED project, explains at this video the solution that this Norwegian company is developing in this project. Both the Spanish company IMAR and Aventa are developing solar collector systems for heating. Aventa’s innovation in RELaTED is that these collector systems are decentralized at the end-user side using the district heating network as storage. The final aim is to install the developed technologies at the RELaTED demo sites. Aventa has developed and produced an all-polymeric solar collector of modular design and flexible in dimensions for building integration. Aventa has pioneer in the delivery of solar thermal collectors fully constructed in polymeric structured sheets. Due to mass production processes [...]

webmaster2019-10-17T14:07:40+00:00April 11th, 2019|Publications, Videos|

Legal and practical barriers and its possible solutions in district heating

This document presents the use of distributed energy sources and the possibilities for integration and control in district heating systems. The report also explains the legal and practical barriers and solutions as well as pricing options for energy sales. […]

webmaster2019-09-26T12:20:20+00:00March 28th, 2019|Public documents, Publications|