IEA SHC Task 68 – Efficient solar district heating

In the increased use of CO2-free technologies for local/district heating supply, solar thermal systems in particular offer an efficient alternative and high decarbonisation potential for the heating and cooling sector. In the IEA SHC Task 55 it has been shown that existing concepts, e.g. from Denmark, cannot be trivially transferred to local/district heating networks in other countries and climatic zones, as most local/district heating networks in Austria and Europe in particular have significantly higher flow temperatures (in the range 80-120°C). The biggest challenges for a successful implementation of solar heat in the existing local/district heating supply are addressed in this project within the framework of an international cooperation with Austrian leadership.

A central question is how the efficient provision of heat at the desired temperature level of the local and district heating networks can be achieved, either directly or indirectly through solar technology (e.g. in combination with heat pumps). At the same time, the tools of digitalisation are to be used for more efficient integration into district heating systems and the use of data for optimisation, control and automatic error detection in order to be able to effectively and safely integrate large solar thermal systems in grid-relevant capacities.

Within the framework of international exchange, it is also task of the project to implement the dissemination of the generated results and to communicate them to relevant actors, as well as increasing the visibility of the Austrian research and technology sector.