Wärmenetzsysteme 4.0

Translated title: District Heating Networks 4.0 – Short Study on the Implementation of the Measure “Model Project on Renewable Energy in Highly Efficient Low-Temperature Heating Networks”

District heating networks are an important infrastructure element for future heat supply and, despite declining building heat demand, have considerable potential for expansion (with a long-term economic potential of around 25% to 30% of the heat demand in Germany). Heating network infrastructures offer the systemic advantage of spatially and temporally balancing heat sources and heat demand in a technically and economically optimised system via adapted flow and return temperatures, heat storage and sectoral coupling.

The future 4th generation should be able to fully exploit the possibilities of heating networks. Fourth generation heating network systems are defined as innovative heating infrastructures based on loss and temperature optimised heating networks. The provision of heat takes place using climate-friendly criteria and the prospective cost-effective heat supply predominantly uses renewable energies and waste heat. The optimisation of the temperature level allows the development of additional heat sources and increases the energy and cost efficiency of the systems.

The goal of this study was to derive technical minimum requirements and a detailed design for the funding programme “District Heating Networks 4.0”  based on an evaluation of 65 existing heating networks, a survey of 30 experts, two specialist workshops, detailed obstacles research, intensive economic and potentiality considerations and an evaluation of existing funding programme framework conditions.