The factors determining the need for modernization of urban district heating systems with combined heat and power are considered. It is noted that these factors include a significant reduction in thermal loads, new technical and technological opportunities for improving district heating systems, the change in legislation in the field of energy and heat supplying. It is shown that the main disadvantage of the current state of Russian cogeneration systems is a decrease in the combined production of heat and power, leading to a decrease in the efficiency of fuel use, due to unreasonably extensive use of autonomous heat supply sources in many regions. Besides, combined heat and power plants (CHPP) experience a lack of a level playing field in competition with other power plants in the electricity market, with a technically and economically unjustified ban imposed on open heat supply systems. For effective use of the benefits of cogeneration and district heating, the following top priority measures are recommended. It is required to legislate the economic benefits for the combined production of electricity and heat. It is necessary to adjust the model of the wholesale electric energy and power market to eliminate discrimination of CHPP in this market. The construction of autonomous heat sources in urban areas with CHPPs is to be prohibited unless substantiated with an adequate feasibility study. Decommissioning of CHPPs and heat sources, which are used to back up CHPPs, must only be permitted subject to a mandatory feasibility study, including assessment of effects on reliability of heat supply of urban consumers. The Russian Federal Law “On heat supply” is to be adjusted to lift the total ban on the use of open heat supply systems. It is required to create a national body with sufficient authority to control and coordinate the activities of energy companies to modernize cogeneration and district heating systems.
Interdisciplinary decision support model for grid-bound heat supply systems in urban areas
