IEA DHC Annex TS9 – Digitalization of district heating and cooling systems: Increasing efficiency and optimizing performance through data integration

The IEA DHC Annex TS9 project is dedicated to researching and improving the efficiency of district heating and cooling networks through the use of digital technologies. The project pursues several key objectives:

• Raising awareness of the benefits of data integration: Annex TS9 promotes understanding of the integration of data from different areas in district heating and cooling networks.
• Investigating interoperability and standardization: Solutions are being developed for communication between the various components of these networks to ensure seamless data transmission.
• Evaluation of non-technical barriers: Economic, legal and political aspects that can influence the digitization process are taken into account.
• Providing insights into current R&D projects: Annex TS9 provides a comprehensive overview of existing projects, demonstrators and case studies in the field of digitalization of HFC systems.

A particular focus is on the further development of “data spaces”, which play a central role in the digital infrastructure of district heating systems. Annex TS9 serves as a platform for the international exchange of findings from research initiatives and national projects. This also includes the creation of guidelines and specialist articles as well as the presentation of results at international events.

For Austria, this means close cooperation with national stakeholders and the coordination of projects that position national solutions and best practice examples internationally. Current findings are disseminated via events, workshops and the IEA website.