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ClimAtE-FRiEndly distRiCt hEAting FoR thE FutuRE
By Managing Director Mr. lars gullev, VeKs
Heat plan greater copenhagen
deals with the future dis-
trict heating (DH) in greater
copenhagen. the analysis has
been initiated by the major
DH companies in greater
copenhagen - ctr, copenhagen
energy and VeKs.
this short article gives an
overview of the results from
the study and the next steps
towards implementation.
Focus on co2 AnD
RenewABle eneRGy
the future goals and framework for the
development of the energy sector are set
by decisions in eu as well as in the Danish
parliament. eu has focus on the internal
market for electricity and gas, increased
utilisation of cHp as well as further
development of the co2 quota market.
objectives for co2 reduction have been
stated; renewable energy (re) and savings
in 2020 of each 20%.
the big producers of electricity & heat,
and the owners of waste incineration
plants are interested in the heat markets
and help define how the supply will develop.
But it is the heat customers who may have
to pay part of the bill in the heat price.
it is therefore crucial that the heating
companies get actively involved in the
development of future solutions.
on that background ctr, copenhagen
energy and VeKs initiated the project
Heat plan for greater copenhagen in
2008 which was finalised summer 2009.
the project sets up five scenarios for the
future DH system in greater copenhagen.
Four of these scenarios end in 2025, and
the fifth, a ”perspective scenario”, continues
to 2050. in each of these scenarios,
D B D H | A n n u A l R e p o R t 2 0 0 9
the optimal economical dispatch of both
power and heat production determines
which plants and fuels are to be used
within the existing frameworks of the
specified energy policies and taxation.
More than 70 % Renewable energy
the analyses show that re can cover
more than 70 % of DH demand in the metropolitan
region from as early as 2015 – if
the involved parties are willing to do what
it takes. Furthermore the study shows
that it can be achieved without negative
economic consequences for the end users
as well as the society.
there are two main factors that make
it possible:
• First; there is a good scope for converting
the fossil fuel at the existing
large cHp plants to biomass.
• second; there are opportunities for
exploiting the increasing volumes of
waste in highly efficient cHp incineration
plants.
However this presumes that taxes still
favour biomass in terms of heat production,
and that biomass based electricity
production is still subsidised.
Photo: Henrik Pyndt
new fuels in play
the scenario analyses show
that the existing cHp plants can
benefit from converting from
coal to biomass - particulary
wood pellets and wood chips - if
total cost is the deciding factor.
coal and natural gas will remain
backup fuels for the security of
supply until the biomass market
is more developed. Biomass use
in central cHp plants offers a
way to rapidly and significantly
increase the re percentage of
DH within just 4-5 years.
coal will not fade out entirely, but will still
be competitive for condensing electricity
production at the large cHp plants. when
demand for heat decreases and electricity
prices are high, some of the plants use
coal for electricity generation only.
Heat from waste incineration is the primary
base load in relation to the overall
DH system. And, as the volumes of waste
are expected to increase in the years
ahead, DH and electricity from incineration
plants represent an increasing share
of energy supplies.
in a DH system where high levels of re are
desired, geothermal energy can reduce
dependency on biomass, but analyses
show that within the existing frameworks
and costs, geothermal energy remains
a more expensive solution. geothermal
energy could be an economically attractive
long-term alternative to cHp based
on biomass if biomass prices rise more
than expected or if demand cannot be
accommodated.