This position paper explains the relevance, potential and current status of large-scale solar thermal heating and cooling systems, including large-scale heat pumps and seasonal storages, leading to actions needed to further and best exploit their integration in district heating and cooling networks. It addresses policy and decision-makers as well as influencers and aims to present high-level information as a basis for uptake and further development.

IEA SHC Task 55 elaborates on technical and economic requirements for the commercial market introduction of solar district heating and cooling systems in a broad range of countries. The Task activities aim to improve technological and market know-how, as well as to develop tools for the network integration of solar thermal systems and the implementation of other renewable energy technologies for maximum energy coverage. A key element is the direct cooperation of SDH experts with associations, companies, and institutions from the DHC community to bridge the gap between the research fields and organizations.

The brochure contains very useful info charts and general information about large scale SDH as well as several case studies of SDH installations in Denmark, China, Serbia, Austria, France, Latvia and Germany, translated into Turkish.

Austrian district heating (DH) has experienced a fast increasing trend for the last 30 years (with the exception of the period 2010-2014), resulting in a triplication of delivered heat; in the year 2018, with about 2400 networks and 20 TWh supply, DH covered 6.4% of the final energy consumption (1122.5 PJ). Worth to underline is also that this growth of Austrian district heating has been about twice faster than the one of the energy demand in the same period. Currently, district heating provides about 26% of the Austrian households with the energy requested for space heating and domestic hot water preparation.

Solar thermal (ST) energy is one of the few renewable heat sources that is available almost everywhere and can bring multiple benefits to district heating and cooling (DHC) networks (on an environmental and systemic level) with very low operation costs and risks. However, the current share of ST in DHC networks is almost zero on a global scale.

IEA SHC Task 55 elaborates on technical and economic requirements for the commercial market introduction of solar district heating and cooling systems in a broad range of countries. The Task activities aim to improve technological and market know-how, as well as to develop tools for the network integration of solar thermal systems and the implementation of other renewable energy technologies for maximum energy coverage. A key element is the direct cooperation of SDH experts with associations, companies, and institutions from the DHC community to bridge the gap between the research fields and organizations.

This document brings together some of the most important experiences from the inspiring development of solar district heating systems that have been seen in Denmark in the past years. The document is an adapted translations of “Solvarme – Inspirationskatalog” from February 2017, elaborated by PlanEnergi for the Danish District Heating Association. Some of the conditions and regulations described might be specific Danish. The main objective of this document is to inspire and qualify the district heating companies (board members as well as operating personnel) as well as representatives from municipalities with respect to the specific processes in the project development phases. This is not a proper guidance in the establishment of solar installations. More specific guidance can be found in IEA SHC Task 45 and Task 55 guidelines and fact sheets and in the Europeran SDH projects – see last section in the document. This document thus complements these guidelines with specific Danish experience. After summing up to the various protagonists follow descriptions of six specific Danish solar district heating plants – and some experiences gained here.

The brochure contains very useful info charts and general information about large scale SDH as well as several case studies of SDH installations in Denmark, China, Serbia, Austria, France, Latvia and Germany.

The programs of Solar Heating and cooling (SHC) as well as District Heating and Cooling (DHC) belong to the 5 main technology collaboration programmes (TCP) of the IEA (International Energy Agency). SHC was among the first programmes of the IEA established in 1977. Its goal is to promote the use of all aspects of solar thermal energy.

The 4th Task 55 Expert Meeting, the SHD DHC Joined Workshop and lates project results are highlihted within the Task 55 Trends Statement in April 2018.