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District Energy

District energy

Today, district heating supplies 9-10% of the European heat demand and reduces CO2 emissions by 113 million tons per year. However, annual CO2 emissions would decrease by 517 million tons if the use of district energy in Europe was doubled and the reliance on renewable energy increased1. 
District energy is the most efficient way to supply buildings with heating and cooling in cities. It can utilize all kinds of energy sources, including renewable sources such as wind surplus electricity via heat pumps, and solar and geothermal heat that can all be stored in the district energy network until it is needed. This flexibility ensures enough fuel at all times and makes it an important part of the future low-carbon world.

District energy can also capture and utilize surplus heat from power generation – referred to as combined heat and power (CHP). Today, 60% of the energy produced in power plants is actually wasted, contributing to our current climate challenges. Power plants convert just 40% of the fuel input to electricity, while combined heat and power plants utilize an additional 50% for heat energy; rejecting just 10% into the environment. At the same time, the utilization of the heat replaces other methods of heating; reducing CO2 emissions significantly.

Benefits from district energy:
- Enables utilization of surplus heat and free cooling sources such as sea water
- Uses economies of scale in densely populated areas
- Works with any energy source - also renewables
- Gives high return on investment


Did you know?
Only 8% of the current electricity capacity globally is combined heat and power (CHP). An increase to 14 % would generate energy savings equivalent to one year’s production by all the world’s windmills2.  


Sources: 1) DHC+ Technology Platform (2009): "District Heating & Cooling: A vision towards 2020 - 2030 - 2050". 2) COWI (2010).  
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Danfoss has 78 years of experience within the field of energy efficiency through optimized utilization of resources.
Our reasoning is very simple: Money saved today is the best foundation for investments in tomorrow's energy saving technologies.