Promoting district heating in China

20 June 2018

District heating is a common heating method in China, which has the world’s largest district heating grid. Driven by rapid growth in Chinese cities, increased wealth and Chinese citizens’ desires for healthy and comfortable living conditions, district heating is experiencing a boom in popularity, whose overall district heating net is the largest in the world. At the same time, there exists a desire to use more renewable energy and surplus heat in the district heating supply in order to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, which create large amounts of local pollution in China’s megacities.

The Danish and Chinese energy authorities work together on the planning and regulation of district heating. This is an important element in the governmental cooperation on energy, which also includes other branches such as energy efficiency improvements, power plant flexibility and wind power.

Ministerial visit
The Danish Minister of Energy, Utilities and Climate, Lars Christian Lilleholt, visited China this week to highlight the partnership and create awareness of the contribution Danish companies make. The Minister’s program included giving a speech at the Sino-Danish renewable Energy and Clean Heating Forum, a visit to a Vestas factory, participating in the opening of Danfoss’ new factory in Anshan in the northern Liaoning province and finally a political discussion with the China’s Energy Minister, Nur Bekri.

Danish business delegation
In tandem with the ministerial visit, a Danish business delegation also visited China in the same week. Organised by the Confederation of Danish Industry’s energy division, DI Energy, the delegation had a special focus on district heating and consisted of several Danish companies, including Kamstrup, Grundfos, Danfoss and ABB. The delegation also included a number of Danish companies from the wind power sector who have business dealings in China, which is accelerating the development of its offshore wind sector.

Denmark’s export of energy technology to China is rising. In 2017, it constituted DKK 3,7 billion (EUR 496 milion) making China Denmark’sfourth biggest market within the energy sector.

District Energy White Paper
To support the export of Danish district heating technology and to expand awareness of the Danish experiences with district heating, State of Green has developed a technical White Paper. Known as ‘District Energy – Energy Efficiency for Urban Areas’, the paper promotes and explains district heating for foreign audiences in an attractive, serious and clear way. It is possible to download the publication in English, German and Chinese, as well as obtain hard copies.

Source: Confederation of Danish Industry