New German white paper on district energy launched

The new German White Paper on ‘District Energy’ was  launched at the annual conference “Export Energy – Gemeinsam in internationalen Energiemärkten” in Düsseldorf last week.

Energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions are an ingrained part of the Danish DNA. While many countries have opted for individual, on-site heating and cooling solutions, Denmark decided to focus on collective heating systems after the oil crisis of the 1970s. Today, 64% of all Danish households are supplied by district heating, contributing to making Denmark one of the most energy-efficient countries in the world. District energy is all about how value is created by supplying heating and cooling collectively instead of individually. In its simplicity, district energy systems move water, with a valuable temperature, from the place of production to the place of consumption. The efficiency of the system is created in all three parts; creating heated or chilled water, avoiding heat loss in the distribution as well as effective connection and use on the consumer side.

Download the German District Energy White Paper: Fernwärme und -Kälte – Energieeffizienz für städtische Gegenden

German demand for district energy
Last week, the German network EnergieAgentur NRW from the Nordrhein-Westfalen state invited to the annual meeting on ‘Export Energy’ in Düsseldorf. Here the German version of State of Green’s District Energy White Paper was launched and presented for the German audience to strengthen and develop the collaboration within the district energy sector. Selected subject matter experts and network partners was gathered to discuss topics as: Tendering of international energy projects, market opportunities of NRW companies in international energy markets, current developments in the renewable energy sector of selected target markets and much more.

Inside the white paper: District Energy – Energy Efficiency for Urban Areas 
The white paper draws on competences built up through more than 100 years of experience with district energy in Denmark and around the world. It highlights some of the main learnings to consider when wanting to expand the use of district energy, by including relevant cases from around the world. More specifically, the white paper highlights the following:

• District energy at its core: Fuel flexibility and secure supply
• Planning and regulation
• a prerequisite: The regulatory process, responsibilities and requirements
• Fuel flexibility allows for sustainability in district heating: The key to intelligent use of energy
• The necessity of heat storage: Saving money and securing supply
• The future of district energy: Realising a strong global potential