European Commission gives renewable district heating the green light
August has been a big month for the European Commission, with multiple green projects approved to contribute to their 2050 climate neutrality target. Among these projects is a €2.98 billion German scheme to promote green district heating based on renewable energy and waste heat.
According to the Commission’s Executive Vice-President, Margrethe Vestager, this scheme will contribute to greening the district heating sector in Germany. “[It will support] the construction of more efficient district heating systems and the decarbonisation of existing ones,” Vestager said in a statement. “With this measure, Germany will be able to increase the share of renewable energy and waste heat in the heating sector, thereby considerably decreasing its emissions.”
What is renewable district heating?
According to this report by the International Energy Agency, district heating systems have operated since the late 1870s, primarily in densely occupied areas with a high and continued demand for heat. “Many buildings and industrial sites rely on district heating, ranging from large urban networks [in cities] to smaller networks such as university and medical campuses.
The report explains that district heating systems are essential to heating sector decarbonisation, as they “allow for the integration of flexible and clean energy sources in the energy mix.” However, this integration may be challenging at the individual building level in dense urban areas, the report continues. “Although many cities are already implementing low carbon district heating solutions, around 90% of global district heat production today still relies on fossil fuels.” That’s right, folks, 90%! As the European Commission is working towards a Net Zero Emissions by 2050, you can see their appeal in backing a green district heating project.
How is renewable energy making an environmental difference?
As I’ve previously discussed here, when “green” projects are announced, it is vital to evaluate for yourself the impact of such a project. The International Renewable Energy Agency states in this report all the positive effects of combining renewable energy with district heating systems. Firstly, the organisation explains how district heating and cooling combined with renewable energy sources can help meet rising urban energy needs, reduce emissions, and improve local air quality. And remember those fossil fuels that I mentioned? District Heating Systems using fossil fuels and others, such as coal and gas, can be upgraded to use more renewable energy. New networks using “solid biofuel, solar and geothermal energy technologies” can be created where networks can’t be upgraded. Other benefits include energy security, improved health, and reduced climate impact.
According to a 2107 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency, few countries at the time were taking advantage of their renewable source potential for district heating and cooling. The report also states that dew countries were creating policies to promote such projects, naming Sweden and Switzerland as the frontrunners towards renewable energy. Five years later, it seems like the rest of Europe is catching up to the renewable energy strategy!
