District heating and cooling for buildings

  • Overview
  • Tools and apps
  • Related products
  • Case stories
  • News

Use of district heating equals higher individual comfort and energy efficiency

The basic principles behind district energy are remarkably simple. At one end of the network is an energy source (often a multi-fuel CHP plant). Heat is then distributed via a network of insulated pipes to residential, commercial and industrial buildings across the city.

At the end-user level, individual buildings are connected to the district heating network. In the building a substation with heat exchangers and various control components efficiently transfer hot water for room heating and domestic hot water (DHW) purposes into a building’s HVAC and DHW systems.

Choosing the right heat distribution system for a building (or network) is influenced by three main criteria:

  1. technical connection specifications;
  2. heat requirements of the building; 
  3. comfort preferences of the building’s occupants.

The more accurately you can balance those needs, the better the service you will provide to your end-users and the more energy efficiency you will achieve. Both of these factors are good for your business.

At Danfoss, we develop and produce all  major components for our substations and flat stations in-house. Because we manufacture the key components ourselves, you will benefit from optimized heat transfer and system control performance. Pressure, differential pressure, temperature and flow are integrated and automatically controlled on nearly all Danfoss substations.

Controllers without auxiliary power, electronic controllers, motorized control valves and energy meters ensure maximum comfort and energy efficiency. They also enable integration into higher-level control and monitoring systems.

How we can help you

Wide product portfolio from flat stations to large site-specific heat transfer units and extensive range of control components

Consultancy and customer dedication, years of experience in buildings and maintaining district energy network

Innovation, technical optimization and performance

Safety and reliability in cooperation, expertise through the entire delivery chain of district energy

Global reach with strong local representation and know-how

Experience with all types of initial energy sources

What are the benefits of district heating and cooling for buildings?

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Tools and apps

Heat Selector

Danfoss Heat Selector is the best-in-class online selection tool that optimizes the planning process for heating application experts.

Open Heat Selector

Related products

  • if (isSmallPicture) { Ball valves- Danfoss; } else if (isBigColumns) { Ball valves- Danfoss } else { Ball valves- Danfoss }
    JIP® on/off ball valves for district energy applications

    Danfoss JIP® Ball valves for on/off control in district heating and cooling systems. Reliable and high-quality for a long lifetime and lower TCO. Unique flow design ensures low-pressure drops and savings on pump energy.

  • if (isSmallPicture) { Butterfly valves- Danfoss; } else if (isBigColumns) { Butterfly valves- Danfoss } else { Butterfly valves- Danfoss }
    Butterfly valves

    Butterfly valves are the components that provide on/off regulation of the district heating, HVAC or water applications where limited space is available for components.

  • if (isSmallPicture) { Motorized control valves and actuators- Danfoss; } else if (isBigColumns) { Motorized control valves and actuators- Danfoss } else { Motorized control valves and actuators- Danfoss }
    Motorized control valves and actuators

    Motorized control valves ensure perfect control and efficiency for every building and application. Danfoss Motorized Control Valves (MCV) for district heating and cooling, HVAC and central heating systems ensure stable and accurate control of water, glycol mixtures and steam.

  • if (isSmallPicture) { ECL controllers- Danfoss; } else if (isBigColumns) { ECL controllers- Danfoss } else { ECL controllers- Danfoss }
    ECL Comfort controllers

    Electronic controllers are intelligent temperature regulators. They can be adapted to a variety of district heating systems, ensuring high comfort level and optimum energy utilization.

  • if (isSmallPicture) { Differential pressure, flow and temperature controllers- Danfoss; } else if (isBigColumns) { Differential pressure, flow and temperature controllers- Danfoss } else { Differential pressure, flow and temperature controllers- Danfoss }
    Differential pressure, flow and temperature controllers

    Balance your network, save energy and improve end-user comfort by hydronic balancing and control of district energy networks. Optimal hydronic balance and perfect temperature control are the key to maximizing the efficiency of heating or cooling networks.

Case stories

  • if (isSmallPicture) { Eurasburg; } else if (isBigColumns) { Eurasburg } else { Eurasburg }
    Successful transition from oil boilers to a local heating network in Eurasburg

    In the Wittelsbacher Land near Augsburg the local network in Eurasburg supplies heat to 80 buildings using a wood chip heating system. Danfoss’ substations ensure efficient heating in all building types, and its modern SCADA solution enables remote system monitoring and management. 

  • if (isSmallPicture) { Saleska valley, Slovenia; } else if (isBigColumns) { Saleska valley, Slovenia } else { Saleska valley, Slovenia }
    Improved hydronic balancing of the district heating network in Slovenia

    The Saleska Valley district heating network is the second largest network in Slovenia, dating back to 1959. Since then, the demands have changed significantly and have challenged the hydronic balancing of the system which was optimized with new intelligent controllers Virtus.

  • if (isSmallPicture) { Research Vessel with reduced need for fuel and reduced emissions complying the IMO environmental regulations; } else if (isBigColumns) { Research Vessel with reduced need for fuel and reduced emissions complying the IMO environmental regulations } else { Research Vessel with reduced need for fuel and reduced emissions complying the IMO environmental regulations }
    Danfoss shaft generators drive down emissions on board

    SOUTH KOREA: The South Korean National Institute of Fishery Science is enjoying great fuel savings and 20-30% less emissions from its newest research vessel. A special shaft generator solution enabled the vessel to comply with the IMO environmental regulations effective in 2020.

  • if (isSmallPicture) { In Helsinki a total of 667 addresses in a mix of large and small buildings and apartments have had the Leanheat software installed.; } else if (isBigColumns) { In Helsinki a total of 667 addresses in a mix of large and small buildings and apartments have had the Leanheat software installed. } else { In Helsinki a total of 667 addresses in a mix of large and small buildings and apartments have had the Leanheat software installed. }
    Leanheat makes buildings smart

    In Europe, 30 percent of all energy consumption goes to heat or cool buildings. Danfoss has the solution to lower energy usage and improve indoor climate by adding a digital element: Leanheat software.

  • if (isSmallPicture) { Solar heating plant reduces CO2 emissions by 15,700 tonnes annually; } else if (isBigColumns) { Solar heating plant reduces CO2 emissions by 15,700 tonnes annually } else { Solar heating plant reduces CO2 emissions by 15,700 tonnes annually }
    Solar heating plant reduces CO2 emissions by 15,700 tonnes annually

    The world’s largest solar heating plant in Silkeborg, Denmark harnesses energy to heat the homes and workplaces of 40,000 citizens. It supplies 18-20% of the annual heat consumption in the city of Silkeborg, Denmark, which has an ambitious target of CO2 neutrality in heat production by the year 2030.

News