A Decision Support Tool for Implementing District Heating in Existing Cities, Focusing on Using a Geothermal Source

Ioannis Acheilas,Aksel Ersoy,Fransje Hooimeijer

doi:10.3390/en13112750

Ioannis Acheilas, Aksel Ersoy + Show 1 more

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Journal: Energies	Publication Date: May 31, 2020
Citations: 10	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Delft University of Technology

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In the context of climate change mitigation strategies in urban environments and reducing reliance on carbon-based energy sources, the Netherlands is gradually taking steps towards modification of its thermal energy system. Geothermal energy, widely used in agriculture, has recently emerged as a local, clean, and sustainable energy source able to fulfil the residential demand for space heating and has received growing attention in district energy planning. However, failed attempts in the past and the lack of experience with direct application of this technology in district heating systems has increased uncertainty with respect to the technical, spatial, and socioeconomic barriers to be overcome between supply and demand. This calls for the application of decision support tools in order to remove these barriers and facilitate more appropriate decision making towards the implementation of smart thermal energy grids in local energy communities. This research explores how the network of actors, those who see opportunities in direct use of geothermal energy in the Netherlands, can work on the transformation of the current centralised carbon-based energy systems towards local sustainable energy communities.

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The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy has a long-term goal to make the energy system carbon neutral by 2050
This paper focuses on identifying critical decisions made by different stakeholders in order to overcome technical, spatial, and socioeconomic barriers in the supply-demand system of geothermal energy and District heating (DH) networks
There is an urgent need to open up a platform for stakeholder engagement at a local level and to create opportunities for a face-to-face dialogue to respond to the complexities of the realities that the local governments are facing by adopting a multi-scale approach towards urban energy systems

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Introduction

The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy has a long-term goal to make the energy system carbon neutral by 2050. The substantial reduction of the use of natural gas is an urgent part of the route to the policy of a sustainable energy supply [3]. Local governments are constrained to make strategic decisions for the planning of heat supply, encouraging the energy transition towards a low-carbon future. An increasing number of stakeholders and policy makers have become aware of the district heating potential and possibilities it offers with regard to energy efficiency and climate mitigation objectives. To meet these targets, it has become necessary to assess the local demand for heat, and the potential for using different renewable energy sources.

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