Digitalization of District Heating: Transforming Heat Networks for a Sustainable Future

The district heating and cooling sector is experiencing new challenges with the current transformation of energy systems. The required decarbonization will result in a more complex heat energy system, as a few large plants which utilize fossil fuels will likely be replaced, mostly by smaller production plants distributed around the system, that use renewable or waste energy sources. Furthermore, district heating and cooling systems must be operated more efficiently and flexibly to ensure a consistent and cost-effective thermal energy supply, as well as effective participation in the power system balancing market. Because of the necessary changes in the energy system, district heating becomes increasingly beneficial to both end users as well as other energy sectors, and the number of connections is increasing in many countries in conjunction with the phase-out of fossil fuels such as oil and gas for space heating and hot water supply. In this changed environment, increased adoption of digital technology in the district heating and cooling sector provides a chance to make systems smarter, more flexible, efficient, and reliable, hence accelerating the necessary integration of additional renewable and waste energy sources into thermal supply systems. However, many existing systems still lack a high level of digitalization. With more complexity, flexibility, more powerful tools, and approaches (and hence increased digitalization) will be required. Aside from technology, the integration of new digital business processes will make deployment easier. However, new concerns, such as data security and privacy, as well as questions concerning data ownership, must be addressed. This paper reflects on the results of the research conducted as part of the IEA DHC Annex TS4 project and the depiction thereof in the “Digitalisation of District Heating Systems – Optimised Operation and Maintenance of District Heating and Cooling Systems via Digital Process Management” guidebook [1]. https://www.iea-dhc.org/the-research/annexes/2018-2024-annex-ts4