Potential of integrating industrial waste heat and solar thermal energy into district heating networks in Germany

Abstract

The German Federal Government identifies the integration of industrial waste heat and solar thermal energy into district heating systems as two measures to decarbonize the heating and cooling market in The Climate Action Plan 2050. This work determines the theoretical potential of industrial waste heat and solar thermal power within the cities’ boundaries and in relation to the cities’ district heating systems. A prognosis for the year 2030 and 2050 will be given. Poor information about industrial waste heat is bypassed by taking industrial emission from the dehst and by calculating the overall installed energy by stoichiometry. 10 %, 20 %, 30 % of the so calculated primary energy input is assumed to be meaningful integrable waste heat. The potential of solar thermal power is estimated by the solar fraction that is given with 1 %, 5 % and 15 %. The results show a high, currently unused potential of industrial waste heat sources and solar thermal power for the integration into district heating. In some cities, these energy sources can supply the heat demand of the city’s district heating system completely.