Did you know that the heat currently being wasted in Europe could heat all of our buildings if it was collected in smart district heating grids? 

40% of our energy use currently consists of heating. All of this energy can become sustainable through modern district heating systems, which collect excess heat from CHP plants and industry and work at low temperatures, which decreases the heat waste and enables more renewable energy sources to be used.

“Our research shows that there is great potential for expanding the district heating grid in Europe by 30-50%, and the political will to make it happen is growing in our surrounding countries,” says Brian Vad Mathiesen, Professor of Energy Planning at Aalborg University.

He is deputy head of the 4DH research centre, which ties together industry, organisations and universities within district heating, funded by the Innovation Fund Denmark.

New video: District heating pertinent all over the world
In recent years, district heating has gained significant political focus in e.g. the EU, which gives the technology a prominent place in its new heating and cooling strategy. District heating has also become an important part of the United Nation’s Environment Programme’s work to obtain climate and sustainability goals.

 “More and more people both in the research world and among political actors are discovering how district heating is both a part of the solution to a fossil free energy system while creating jobs, export and positive health effects,” says Henrik Lund, head of 4DH and Professor at Aalborg University.

 “With this video we would like to ensure that the knowledge we have obtained during our research reaches all parts of Europe. It explains in a collected way the technologies and the collaboration we need in the future renewable energy system with electricity, heat and energy savings,” says Brian Vad Mathiesen.

The message of the video is that modern district heating systems are necessary to decrease 
our CO2 emissions and obtain 100% renewable energy. At the same time, they are cost-efficient 
and create jobs.

Source: Aalborg Universitet