IEA SHC Task 68 Efficient Solar District Heating Systems

Project start: 01.04.2022
Project end: 31.03.2025
Task website: https://task68.iea-shc.org/

On April 1, 2022, the Technical University of Denmark, PlanEnergi, Aalborg CSP A/S and Heliac ApS commenced work in the IEA SHC Task on ‘Efficient Solar District Heating Systems’. The goal of the project is to develop efficient solar district heating (SDH) systems for medium-high temperature applications (80-120°C). The target will be achieved either directly by solar using a combination of different solar collector technologies, or indirectly by solar combining solar collectors with other renewable technologies (e.g. heat pumps). Numerical simulation tools will be developed for selected technologies with high potentials both on component level and on system level. Based on these models, sensitivity analysis will be conducted to find optimal configurations and design parameters. The efficiency of the SDH systems will be significantly improved, especially for medium-high temperature heat, by automated data collection/storage, smart analysis and fault detection techniques and by advanced control strategies. New business models and ways of cost reduction for SDH systems will be proposed and the technical, economic, political requirements for successful implementation of SDH will be investigated. Additionally, the task aims to gather data and insights from real installations and disseminate the knowledge to industry and public. Based on summary of demo applications, fact sheets, future scenarios as well as qualitative and quantitative targets will be worked out for the public, the solar sector and policy markers respectively.

The project partners, Technical University of Denmark, Department of Civil Engineering (DTU-CIVIL), PlanEnergi and Aalborg CSP A/S, Heliac ApS have ongoing research collaborations on development of solar collectors and thermal energy storages for large scale solar heating applications. In the proposed task, DTU CIVIL will extend the capability of its existing models to medium-high temperature applications. PlanEnergi will adapt existing SDH system models (including storage) to enable medium-high temperature applications, optimize its planning and design procedure for SDH. Aalborg CSP and Heliac will develop high efficiency concentrating solar collectors for high temperature applications. With key players from Danish solar thermal industry in the task, the project will promote integration of Danish companies in the world development of new solar heating market and help to secure Denmark’s front position in solar district heating systems.