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Explore how Denmark’s district heating system are used as a key tool in transforming the future energy system, paving the way towards reaching ambitious climate goals.

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Download the case catalogue: Digitalisation of the Danish District Heating Sector

Digitalisation plays an integral part in the Danish district heating sector, optimising invoicing, operations, and administration for better customer service. Get inspired by 18 cases of digitalisation and data-driven operations from Denmark’s district heating sector.

READ THE CASE CATALOGUE

Digitalisation can transform the heating sector

Digitalisation has a major role to play in supporting the transition to clean energy. Heating our buildings and homes accounts for almost a quarter of global final energy consumption, and one fifth of all energy related GHG emissions. At the same time, the exponential usage of electronic appliances will add significantly to residential and service sector electricity consumption.

Digitalisation has the key to unlock improved efficiencies across the entire energy supply chain, from planning, production to demand management, and is a critical enabler for emerging trends such as sector integration, smart demand response, decentralization and distributed energy.

Indeed, digital solutions could cut total energy use in residential and commercial buildings by 10% by 2040, according to the International Energy Agency. At the same time, the rollout of digital technologies could provide a significant contribution to heat supply, through recovery of waste heat from data centers. Allborg university estimates that surplus heat from data centers could realistically cover 8% of the heat demand in Denmark by 2045.

Through the use of smart thermostats, real-time weather forecasting, smart lighting connected to heating and cooling management, occupancy sensors, artificial intelligence, digital twins, energy management systems and many other digital technologies, we can get the most out of the resources we have available and even invent new ways to create value for the benefit of our economies, populations and planet.

Enabling the twin transition

The “twin transition”, in which the digital & the clean energy transition meet, contains a huge and largely untapped opportunity for technology and data to drive sustainability goals. Instead of advancing the two transitions in isolation, combining them offers a win-win-win opportunity: for the digital sector, the energy sector, and for societies at large. However, a number of barriers exist for an accelerated twin transition. Energy data needs to be governed and used with respect to those who own the data – residents of our societies. Digital systems can open energy assets up to vulnerability from adverse intent – hacking, malware, and ransomware.

Denmark is leading the way

Denmark is taking firm steps towards developing a leading position in relation to developing and utilising digital solutions in the energy sector. The Danish government as well as Danish companies acknowledge the pivotal relationship that digitalisation and clean energy has, and the potential it offers for the set climate ambitions.

The  government has initiated the development of a comprehensive digitalisation strategy for the utility sector, in order to develop the framework conditions for the future, digitalised energy sector. This strategy brings together public, private and third sector actors supporting the energy system of the future.

Digitalisation in the energy sector is a Danish stronghold. Denmark develops smart thermostats, measurement technology, software for building management, and artificial intelligence to make the most of the energy we have available. In fact, Denmark has managed to keep household energy consumption consistently low due to a historic focus on energy efficiency measures.

Online content: Delve into articles on district heating and Power-to-X.

The arguments for district heating are stacking upThe arguments for district heating are stacking up

District heating and cooling networks are being increasingly considered as opportunities to decarbonise space heating and hot water supply in urban areas
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District heating and Power-to-X make natural partners

With a little planning, placing hydrogen electrolysers close to district heating networks can prove to be mutually beneficial for the operators of both technologies, while also accelerating the energy transition
Read the article

Presentation by HOFOR

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Presentation by Albertslund Municipalty

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Presentation by Greve District Heating

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Presentation by Copenhagen Municipality

Solutions

solutions

Buildings

+9

MAPPING DISTRICT HEATING NETWORKS FROM DRONES

12 November 2018
SAVING TIME AND MONEY The use of slow, partial or semi-reliable data to map the state of district heating networks is coming to an end. Drones, a few years ago only buzzing in the imagination of inno

solutions

Air pollution

+12

Copenhagen Connecting: Driving Data to Quality Service – to the Benefit of Citizens and Businesses

6 October 2014
Keen to promote growth, quality of life and sustainability, Copenhagen boosts innovative business and action across sectors through a game changing data-approach. Combining technologies in new ways, i

solutions

Bioenergy

+13

Modelling of large power systems

12 May 2020
Being able to analyse large energy systems.

Making more of less

Earthquakes in Groningen, dependency on natural gas, and an abundance of greenhouse gas emissions. These are just some of the negative side-effects of the current heating system. There is an urgent need to transform the current system into a sustainable heating system, and digitalisation plays a crucial role in that transition.

Last year, the Danish think tank ‘Green Energy Association’ and the Danish District Heating Association published an inspiration calatalogue aimed at district heating utilities that have not yet had the courage to start digitalising their district heating supply themselves. The catalogue presents 16 examples of digitalisation and data-driven operation in Danish district heating utilities. Explore the catalogue here (in Danish)

The benefits of data-driven disctrict heating operations

  • Accelerate the green transition and sector integration by effective integration of RE and PtX
  • Lower the heat loss and necessary pumping power in the distribution network
  • Integrate the heating capacity of buildings to reduce the need for peak load in the morning hours
  • Perform condition-based maintenance
  • Free up internal resources
  • Contribute to innovation and development of new digital services

White papers on digitalisation

publications

Buildings

+8

Energy renovation of buildings

1 June 2022
How to realise the untapped potential of the built environment with energy renovation of buildings.

publications

Combined heat and power production

+10

District Energy

1 October 2021
Green heating and cooling for urban areas

publications

Buildings

+6

Smart cities

10 December 2019
Creating liveable, sustainable and prosperous societies

Solution providers

partners

Buildings

+14

Kamstrup

19 January 2009

partners

Water management

+17

Grundfos

22 January 2009
We are a global water technology company committed to pioneering solutions to the world’s water and climate challenges and improving the quality of life for people.

partners

Buildings

+6

ReMoni

20 September 2014
With market-proven services, such as Predictive Energy Optimization, ReMoni ensures on average a 30% energy reduction in non-residential buildings.

partners

Buildings

+5

EnergiData

15 December 2016

partners

Bioenergy

+16

Danfoss

21 January 2009
The global climate crisis caused by carbon emissions is a key threat to society and our planet. Danfoss’ energy-efficient and climate-friendly solutions enable a cost-effective green transition.

partners

Bioenergy

+17

Pernexus Systems

28 June 2017

partners

District energy

+1

Frese

19 January 2009

partners

Bioenergy

+44

NIRAS

18 February 2009
We are a value-driven, multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy fundamentally committed to sustainable progress and service delivery.

partners

Air pollution

+55

COWI

28 January 2009
We provide state-of-the-art services within engineering, environmental science and economics with due consideration for the environment and society.