Possibility assessment of the low-temperature district heating systems implementation in Ukraine

Abstract

These researches concern the application of renewable energy sources in district heating systems. In Ukraine, district heating systems cover approximately 50% of the demand for thermal energy in the residential and communal sector. District heating systems 2G are most often used, which are characterized by high temperatures of the heat coolant, the lack of accounting for heat energy consumption during transportation of the heat coolant, and the use of fossil fuels. In the countries of the European Union, the introduction of district heating systems is considered one of the key directions for the transition to a decarbonized, environmentally safe and efficient energy system. The development of district heating systems technologies makes it possible to lower the temperature of the heat coolant in heat networks and increase the use of renewable energy sources. Ukraine will eventually become a full-fledged member of the European Union, and this determines the need to find ways to bring Ukraine's heat supply systems to the 4G level, in particular to low-temperature district heating systems with the most efficient use of renewable energy sources and waste heat. This article examines climatic, physical-geographical and social features, regulatory, technical and financial-economic opportunities and barriers to the implementation of low-temperature district heating systems in Ukraine. As a result of analytical studies, it was established that there are prerequisites for the introduction of low-temperature heat supply systems in Ukraine, however, a number of technical, regulatory, social and financial and economic measures need to be implemented to bring district heating systems up to 4G indicators. These studies allow establishing measures that require further research for the possibility of introducing low-temperature district heating systems in particular and environmental safety of heat supply systems in general.