The study evaluates the performance of currently operated district heating grids of the company badenova WärmePlus. It defines determining factors in the economic as well as environmental performance which in turn, influence the technology’s acceptance in society. Besides, the issue of decreasing heat demands which poses new challenges for the technology is tackled.
This is done in analyzing the internal and external influential framework and in describing the technological status quo. Hereafter a modeling of the operation performance of selected district heating grids is carried out. Calculations aim at an evaluation of whether the effective losses of the grids apply to the technological circumstances or whether measures need to be applied in order to derive better cost effectiveness. An NPV evaluation provides an insight into the potential profitability of such measures.
Another investment analysis is done on the basis of a fictional DH network. A sensitivity analysis is applied in varying the values of the parameter which were determined to have crucial influence on the sustainability of a district heating network operation.
The final discussion aims at providing information on how district heating can continue to be a currently widely accepted technology with a large fuel and cost saving as well as a considerable decarbonization potential. It leads to the conclusion that even though prospective heat demand patterns lead to the necessity of changing operation concepts, DH can still be a preferable technology.