Possibilities through Digitalisation on the example of District Heating and Colling

Digitalization or the wide implementation of digital technologies in our energy systems are believed to make our systems smarter, more efficient and reliable. Furthermore, a much higher integration of renewable energy sources into the systems is expected, as well as new business possibilities are generated by the use of innovative digital technologies and processes. In this context, the IEA DHC Annex TS4 project is aiming at promoting the opportunities of the integration of digital processes into DHC schemes. This implies the clarification of the role of digitalization for different parts within the operation and maintenance of the district heating and cooling system. Furthermore, the implementation of these technologies is going to be demonstrated in a close cooperation with a number of industry partners. Moreover, the challenges such as data security and privacy as well as questions about data ownership are also addressed. Traditionally, district heating and cooling (DHC) networks are operated with a limited number of controls (as the control of the supply temperatures or the network pressure) to secure the required supply task and to optimize economics and ecologic performance. Detailed information of the supply and utilization structures (e.g. heat plant characteristics, power demand or time profiles) is not provided in classical network operation. An optimized heat generation and overall network operation is possible with more information on the demand and flexibility options (storages) resulting in e.g. peak shaving and the reduction of expensive peak boiler use. In these systems a wider integration of fluctuating heat sources, such as solar thermal energy and power-to-heat applications operating on the electricity markets, can be shown in already realized projects. Wider implementation of information and communication technologies, as in many other industries, unlocks potentials for better network management based on real-time measurement data and the integration of new business models. A growing number of companies are offering products and services, as e.g. digital analyses platforms or smart meters, in this frame. The current changes and developments in the operating environment are presenting both opportunities and threats for district heating providers. The main impact of the integration of digital technologies and methods for district heating providers is expected to be in the changing business environment. Via these new technologies the ways of working and using already established business models will change, new services and products will enter the market. On the other hand, existing business models are affected by the increased energy efficiency of the building stock caused by reduced heat sales and by the customer's demand for alternative heating solutions. Here digitalization will bring new methods to meet changing customer needs and to communicate with the different groups of customers. The special importance of digitalization in district heating systems is that digitalization is a prerequisite in innovative low temperature, so-called 4th generation, heat networks to integrate renewable and fluctuating heat sources. So, digitalization has the potential to make heat networks more sustainable, more reliable, has the potential to integrate more renewable energy, more excess heat, better suitable for the integration of lower temperature levels e.g. via an optimal usage of heat pumps or CHP units, more profitable e.g. via the reduction of expensive fossil fuel consumption or via the reduction of transmission losses. The presentation, the abstract presents and discusses the first results from the research work within the IEA DHC Annex TS4 on "Digitalisation of District Heating Systems-Optimised Operation and Maintenance of District Heating and Cooling Systems via Digital Process Management".