IEA DHC Annex TS7: Ein systemischer Ansatz für hochintegrierte industrielle und thermische Energiesysteme

This Annex investigates how coupling industrial processes with thermal energy networks can create synergies that accelerate their broader and more efficient use. In a cascading, circular energy usage industrial waste heat becomes increasingly important for decarbonizing district heating and urban energy systems. Conversely, district heating can supply low-temperature industrial processes and help replace fossil fuels, while thermal networks also enable new decentralized cooling concepts and energy exchange between companies.

The Annex contains the following subtasks:

Subtask 1 – Best-practice examples:

Review and compile real-world cases (TRL 7–9) of industrial waste-heat recovery and low-temperature district heating with focus on identifying technical and non-technical barriers and solutions.

Subtask 2 – Transformation strategies:

Collect and assess existing tools, methods, and analyses that quantify waste-heat potential and evaluate its role in local and national decarbonization strategies.

Subtask 3 – Integration options and concepts:

Analyze integration pathways between industrial energy systems and district heating and cooling networks by evaluating decentral DHC developments, structuring decarbonization concepts for industry, and identifying promising integration options.

Subtask 4 – Future-proof business models:

Identify and present innovative business models and best-practice demonstrations that showcase successful industrial integration and support the economic feasibility of decarbonized, coupled energy systems.

Subtask 5 summarizes the findings into a guidebook and works on the dissemination aspect. AEE INTEC contributes specifically to Subtask 1 and Subtask 3 with our experiences from previous projects as well as to the guidebook overall.