Quick BIO-NET

The demand for heating will decrease in the future due to building renovations and construction of energy-efficient new buildings. For existing local heating networks, this means a reduction in the amount of heat to be transported along the network and thus an increase in relative network losses. Above all, the economic efficiency of the network suffers and the competitiveness with alternative systems is no longer given. On the other hand, the expansion of renewables and the mostly unused waste heat sources (e.g. waste heat from industrial processes, waste heat from commercial plants, etc.) mean that there is a lot of potential available that has so far rarely been used to provide heat in local heating networks or is often not usable due to the current conditions.

This means that it is important for heating plant operators to quickly identify the potential of their heating network in order to find specific measures to increase the efficiency. The project follows exactly this issue with the creation of a quick-Check tool.

By entering just a few essential parameters for heating plants, the tool enables simple benchmarking to determine the status quo. In addition, various possibilities for integrating new renewable energy technologies – e.g. solar thermal energy, photovoltaics, buffer storage, combined heat and power, or waste heat from industry and commerce – are analysed. The results of the tool form the basis for decisions on the further development and optimisation of the local heating network.

Within the framework of the case study-based work, the goal is to analyse concrete heating networks in the participating project regions and to sustainably promote the development of the tool. In addition, an initial training offer will be provided for KEM managers who act as the first point of contact for local heating networks in their region.