Biomass-based district heating networks and systems play a central role in sustainable heat supply covering around 2,400 systems in operation in Austria. Currently and in near future, there is an increased need for retrofitting and modernization of these existing heating networks, especially of the first and second generation, in order to meet current and future technical, economic and regulatory challenges combined with a sustainable and strategic expansion of the heating system.
To support the transformation processes the R&D project BM Retrofit was launched. The project is dedicated to the development and demonstration of holistic retrofitting and modernization concepts as well as portfolio expansion of biomass-based district heating networks and systems.
A transdisciplinary team of 13 project partners, consisting of research institutions, energy suppliers & infrastructure operators as well as know-how & technology providers, has set the goal of developing and implementing modernization as well as expansion measures for existing heating networks.