Potential carbon emissions reduction related to the recovery of unutilised waste heat

2021 ◽  
pp. 014362442098627
Author(s):  
Lina Aglén
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Heat Supply ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Technical Note ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Heat Potential ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Heating Networks

The introduction of district heating will have a significant impact on the building services industry, from the architecture of a building to its operation. This technical note investigates a delimited portion of the potential of currently unutilised heat which has the possibility to supply district heating networks in the UK. The UK industrial sector, wastewater treatment facilities and the existing UK waste incineration plants all produce waste heat available in a temperature range suitable for extraction into district heating networks via commercialised techniques broadly used in other countries. This technical note presents a comparative literature review, comparing UK statistics and studies with performance data based on Swedish operational facilities. It finds 51.7TWh of currently unutilised heat could be recovered annually, with a significant associated emission decrease if incorporated into the heat supply of the UK building stock. A quantitative analysis is carried out to compare the identified potential with the current UK heat demand and the potential impact on the UK carbon emissions is estimated. The calculations indicate a reduction of 14% in the required UK total domestic heat supply, despite only including a limited fraction of the available waste heat potential. This technical note serves to highlight and emphasise the large amount of available waste heat potential currently not utilised in the UK. By estimating the impact of waste heat utilisation and incorporation into district heating and heat networks in the UK, the technical note aims to fuel discussion around the further incorporation of waste heat to be utilised in the UK heat sector.

A technical note investigating the combination boiler market as a proxy for a simple thermal quality of service standard in heat interface units

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 627-637
Author(s):  
Huw Blackwell
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Technical Note ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Heating Systems ◽  
Domestic Hot Water ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Heating Networks

Heat interface units used in district heating networks provide very similar services to those expected from domestic gas boilers. As heat interface units become more common, it is becoming clear that heat interface units are often oversized. This technical note aims to review and summarise the technical specification of equipment typically available from combination boiler (also known as combi boilers) manufacturers in the UK. This includes thermal outputs and flow rate limitations, particularly those associated with domestic hot water production. It is proposed for use as an equivalent typical minimum domestic hot water flow rate and maximum thermal power benchmark for domestic hot water production by heat interface units, which are utilised in the equivalent role in the communal and district heating market. The aim is to prevent extensive oversizing of heat interface units, thereby reducing capital costs, pipe sizes and improving efficiency on district and communal heating networks. Practical application: This technical note proposes a DHW quality of service standard based on a review of the UK heating system market (specifically the combination boiler market) and water consumption restrictions arising from Building Regulations. This may be used to define an equivalent maximum thermal power and minimum service flow rate when specifying heat interface units used in residential communal heating systems and district heating systems.

scholarly journals RELaTED Project: New Developments on Ultra-Low Temperature District Heating Networks

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Antonio Garrido Marijuan ◽  
Roberto Garay ◽  
Mikel Lumbreras ◽  
Víctor Sánchez ◽  
Olga Macias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperature ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Thermal Systems ◽  
Heating Source ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Thermal Sources ◽  
Heating Networks

District heating networks deliver around 13% of the heating energy in the EU, being considered as a key element of the progressive decarbonization of Europe. The H2020 REnewable Low TEmperature District project (RELaTED) seeks to contribute to the energy decarbonization of these infrastructures through the development and demonstration of the following concepts: reduction in network temperature down to 50 °C, integration of renewable energies and waste heat sources with a novel substation concept, and improvement on building-integrated solar thermal systems. The coupling of renewable thermal sources with ultra-low temperature district heating (DH) allows for a bidirectional energy flow, using the DH as both thermal storage in periods of production surplus and a back-up heating source during consumption peaks. The ultra-low temperature enables the integration of a wide range of energy sources such as waste heat from industry. Furthermore, RELaTED also develops concepts concerning district heating-connected reversible heat pump systems that allow to reach adequate thermal levels for domestic hot water as well as the use of the network for district cooling with high performance. These developments will be demonstrated in four locations: Estonia, Serbia, Denmark, and Spain.

Static grid carbon factors – Can we do better?

2021 ◽  
pp. 014362442199196
Author(s):  
Jamie Risner ◽  
Anna Sutherland
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Regional Analysis ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Carbon Intensity ◽  
External Temperature ◽  
Building Regulations ◽  
Calculation Methodology ◽  
Alternative Methodology ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

The average carbon intensity (gCO2e/kWh) of electricity provided by the UK National Grid is decreasing and becoming more time variable. This paper reviews the impact on energy calculations of using various levels of data resolution (half hourly, daily, monthly and annual) and of moving to region specific data. This analysis is in two parts, one focused on the potential impact on Part L assessments and the other on reported carbon emissions for existing buildings. Analysis demonstrated that an increase in calculated emissions of up to 12% is possible when using an emissions calculation methodology employing higher resolution grid carbon intensity data. Regional analysis indicated an even larger calculation discrepancy, with some regions annual emissions increasing by a factor of ten as compared to other regions. This paper proposes a path forward for the industry to improve the accuracy of analysis by using better data sources. The proposed change in calculation methodology is analogous to moving from using an annual average external temperature to using a CIBSE weather profile for a specific city or using a future weather file. Practical application: This paper aims to quantify the inaccuracy of a calculation methodology in common use in the industry and key to building regulations (specifically Building Regulations Part L – Conservation of Fuel and Power) – translating electricity consumption into carbon emissions. It proposes an alternative methodology which improves the accuracy of the calculation based on improved data inputs.

scholarly journals Technological Innovation in the Aspect of Safety in the Process of Heat Supply

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 412-418
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Wrzalik ◽  
Matevž Obrecht
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Heat Supply ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
District Heating ◽  
High Energy ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Heating Systems ◽  
Operation Conditions ◽  
Network Operation ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIn recent years heating in Poland has been transformed as a result of the priorities of the country's energy policy implemented within the European Union. The increase in energy security, the development of renewable energy sources and the fulfilment of legal and environmental requirements are very important. Exploitation of district heating systems should ensure reliable and safe heat supplies for industrial and municipal customers with high energy efficiency and reduction of environmental impact. The article discusses the conditions and directions of centralized heating systems development as well as technical and economic issues, which are important for the security of heat supply. The Author describes selected technological innovations used in the technical infrastructure for heat transfer and modern IT systems which are improving the management of heating systems. The article includes the results of simulation research with use of IT tools showing the impact of selected innovations on the improvement of network operation conditions. Directions of modernization of heating systems in the aspect of increasing energy efficiency and security of heat supply have also been indicted here.

scholarly journals Fitting geothermal energy into the energy transition

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel P. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Geothermal Energy ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Heat Sources ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Energy Consideration ◽  
Seasonal Heat ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Base Load ◽  
Heating Networks

Abstract This article attempts to identify the main ‘above-ground’ factors which impact on the contribution that geothermal energy can make to the Dutch Energy Transition, and to draw conclusions about these factors. Recent literature sources are used to illustrate the size of Dutch heating demand, and the part of this which can be provided by geothermal energy. Consideration is given to the impact of off-take variability over time, showing that the base-load nature of geothermal doublets acts as a restraint on the share which they can take in the energy supply. The characteristics of district heating grids are discussed. Other potential sources of heat are considered and compared. The conclusion is that geothermal energy can provide a material contribution to the energy transition. This depends to a large extent on the existence of and design choices made for the development of district heating networks. Large size and standardisation, and the development of seasonal heat storage, are beneficial. Unlike most other renewable sources of heat, which have alternative ‘premium’ applications such as the provision of ‘peak capacity’ or molecules for feedstock, geothermal energy is not suitable for other uses. The emission savings that it can provide will be lost if other heat sources are chosen in preference as supply for district heating, so that it makes sense that district heating infrastructure should be designed to encourage the use of geothermal energy where possible.

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