REWARDHeat – Renewable and Waste Heat Recovery for Competitive District Heating and Cooling Networks 

REWARDHeat will demonstrate cost-effective solutions for DHC systems, which can satisfy at least 80% of the energy demand of the system with locally-available renewable energy and waste heat sources. 

The project will integrate the EU top-down energy and climate policy mechanisms with a bottom-up approach to promote the decarbonisation of the local DHC systems. Through this integrated approach and demonstration at 8 demo sites, the solutions developed will be highly replicable across European cities. 

1. DHC network PLANNING solutions 

REWARDHeat will explore alternative configurations of a DHC network, where there are multiple heating and cooling sources available. It will provide recommendations for the replication of the systems depending on their boundary conditions. 

2. Substations including local storage and reversible heat pump 

Specific configurations adapted to network temperature levels, application and consumer’s energy uses will be demonstrated. 3 or 4 substation configurations including sizing procedures and control strategies will be devised. 

3. Distribution pipelines dedicated to low temperature DHC networks 

Following analysis of the optimal distribution pipe materials and installation techniques, partners will develop a prefabricated 4-pipe product specifically designed around the needs of low-temperature DHC networks. 

4. Thermal storage capacity exploitation 

REWARDHeat will demonstrate how to optimise thermal storage to create flexibility. Although the utilisation of storage in the DH sector practice is not new, the control of such a system in the presence of significantly varying loads both at user and heat generation sides becomes a challenge. 

5. Datamining and control infrastructure 

Control strategies based on the prediction of foreseen energy demand will be elaborated to guarantee an optimized balancing. 

6. Business models based on ‘heat as a service’ 

A business model will be developed for each of the eight demonstrator networks based on the assumption that heat is delivered as a service rather than as a commodity. Based on the business models identified, parameters of importance for the transition from high temperature to low temperature DHC networks will be identified. 

7. Financing schemes driven by large private-public funding 

REWARDHeat aims to make DHC networks more attractive to investors by increasing transparency. A financing support approach targeted to the specific economic, legislative, social and environmental parameters will be elaborated. 

8. Impact scenarios, recommendations and guidelines 

Operational scenarios will be assessed as a basis to demonstrate the economic viability of the REWARDHeat solutions both from the energy providers and prosumers points of view. The work will document the recommendations for REWARDHeat integrated infrastructures approach and develop practical guidelines in order to support and facilitate replication and exploitation. 

9. Serious Game – REWARDHeat Business Game 

A business game focused on practice-oriented further education will be developed and applied with different stakeholders.