Developing District Heating in Ireland

The first national conference to explore the potential for district heating in Ireland will take place tomorrow, Tuesday 4^th October.  Developing District Heating in Ireland, which is being organised by Dublin’s energy agency Codema on behalf of the Irish Bioenergy Association, will highlight the important role that district heating can play in reducing carbon emissions across the heating sector in Ireland.

District heating distributes heat through a network of insulated pipes and can typically provide space heating and hot water to residential and commercial buildings far more sustainably and economically than traditional methods using gas or oil.  Ireland has typically lagged behind with this type of technology compared to other European countries, where district heating networks are widespread.

The conference will also feature experts from Denmark, a.o. DBDH, a country where district heating has been hugely successful, and is the main source of heat for the majority of Danish homes and businesses.

Speaking in advance of the conference, President of the Irish Bioenergy Association, Michael Doran, said: “District heating is a well-established, effective technology and is commonplace in other European countries.  We now need to explore how this technology can be further developed in Ireland and this conference is the first step towards that, opening up a much needed discussion on the role district heating can play towards a more low-carbon, sustainable society.”

Codema’s Strategic Sustainable Energy Planner, Donna Gartland, said: “Having lived in Denmark myself, I have witnessed first-hand the many economic, environmental and societal benefits associated with district heating, such as lower heating costs, hot water on-demand, and high levels of sustainable heat supply.  The EU has identified this technology as key to lowering carbon emissions in the heating sector, and together with the introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive, could make a significant contribution towards meeting our national and EU energy targets.”