Potential for district heating/cooling and cogeneration in Europe: An analysis of EU Member States' assessments under EED Art 14?

Panel: 2. Policy: governance, design, implementation and evaluation challenges

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Erwin Cornelis, (Privé), Belgium
Pieter Vingerhoets, EnergyVille, Belgium

Abstract

This paper analyses the comprehensive assessment reports on the national potential of high-efficient cogeneration (CHP) and efficient district heating (DH), submitted by the EU Member States to comply with Art 14 of the Energy Efficiency Directive. In total 26 reports from 24 Member States are analysed. The analysis focuses on following elements: (1) the reported forecasted evolution of the heating and cooling demand; (2) mapping of heating and cooling demand and potential supply points; (3) the results of the technical and economic potential studies for CHP and DH; and (4) the reported policies and measures to realize this potential

While extensive guidelines were given by the European Commission and the JRC, the Member States applied different calculation methods and input parameters and presented the results in different ways. Different interpretations on how to calculate the technical potential could be observed as well. In addition, several Member States failed to report all required data to the European Commission. It is, as a result, very challenging to compare the results of the comprehensive assessment reports. As a recommendation, a reporting template and a set of mandatory indicators could be integrated in a future comprehensive assessment.

Several Member States reported a high additional economic potential for district heating networks. The additional potential of cogeneration was more limited and often correlated with the potential for district heating. The nation-wide estimates of the energy savings by district heating/cooling and cogeneration of the different Member States could not be compared.

A wide range in quality of heat maps indicating demand areas and supply points could be observed as well. Some Member States have developed sophisticated interactive geographical analysis tools. While this might herald an era in which such tools become standard analysis tools, efforts are needed for a better spread of such tools amongst all EU Member States.