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District Heating Systems (BENEFITS: Higher efficiency. Lower carbon…
District Heating Systems
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Using these systems for new builds in particular means that cheaper, low carbon energy sources can be added without additional upheaval such as digging up roads or making changes in homes. It is a lot easier to build a district heating system into a development from the start in comparison to retrofitting properties. https://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/blog/what-district-heating
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In Scotland, the District Heating Loan is working to support good quality schemes that will reduce bills, reduce emissions and create jobs. Smaller schemes were initially the norm but now there are larger schemes using the loan. Schemes based on heat pumps are on the rise compared to the initial applications being wood fuel based. https://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/blog/what-district-heating
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The idea that the underground will provide heat to the nearby town of Islington is classed as a district heating system as it will see multiple homes in a town receive energy from a main source - the underground northern line.
Problems: For those on flat rate charging (paying the same rate for their heating no matter how much they use), they often open a window rather than turn down the thermostat and heat rooms more than normal if you were settling the bill. In older systems there is poor control of the heating. Modern homes have programmers, thermostats which leads to overheating and wasting energy. https://www.thegreenage.co.uk/what-is-district-heating/
An ideal district heating system would have metering to allow charging based on how much the customer uses. This is rare because there is push back from customers who already have flat rate charging and don't want a bills increase. https://www.thegreenage.co.uk/what-is-district-heating/
BENEFITS: Higher efficiency. Lower carbon emissions. Gives the opportunity for smaller dwellings to use alternative clean and renewable fuels like biomass that would otherwise be unsuitable for their property. https://www.thegreenage.co.uk/what-is-district-heating/
Allows a broad range of energy sources including fuels and flows to work together to increase reliability and efficiency. Helps manage the supply and demand of heat to avoid unnecessary production while still meeting needs. The ability to increase efficiency of a fuel when a cogeneration plant is used. Reduced labour and maintenance costs involved with individual systems. Opportunities for renewable energy sources which wouldn't otherwise be economic or practical. https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/District_heating
District heat systems can also use wasted heat such as that from factories and manufacturing. This means that homes near companies who have a lot of waste energy can benefit by using this wasted heat.
LIMITATIONS: Needs forward planning as it is hard to retrofit. Needs long term financial commitment. Connecting homes means residents can't change supplier down the line so they may not be getting the cheapest deal. There is no consumer protection or minimum standards meaning breakdowns and service interruptions are out of the occupants' hands. Controls and tariffs need to be considered to create the most efficient solution. https://www.thegreenage.co.uk/what-is-district-heating/
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Aberdeen Heat and Power are developing combined heat and power schemes for Aberdeen. So far, 2350 flats in 33 blocks have benefitted from CHP installations along with 15 public buildings. Emissions from these buildings has reduced by 45%. Heating costs to tenants have been reduced by up to 50% and satisfaction surveys have proved the occupants are very satisfied with their new heating. https://www.aberdeenheatandpower.co.uk/about/
Szeged, Hungary. They are developing a geothermal district heating project to cut the use of gas and production of CO2 emissions. The funding has been provided with the help of the EU. The amount of gas used for district heating and CO2 will be halved over 4 years. The project will include more than 27,000 district heating flats with 23 heating plants serving 469 institutions. This will become the second largest geothermal residential district heating system after Reykjavik. The geothermal heating system can operate for 60-80 years with the proper maintenance. http://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/ambitious-large-scale-geothermal-district-heating-project-kicking-off-in-szeged-hungary/
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