Meet cooling needs in SUMMER by applying HEAT from cogeneration

SUMMERHEAT aims to assess the political framework and market conditions within the European Union to use waste heat from combined heat and power (CHP) technologies and incineration plants in district heating networks during summer for the operation of cooling applications (chillers). The current low demand for this “Summerheat” is one of the main bottlenecks for an increased use of CHP-technologies and incinerators.

Benefits of an increased use of Summerheat to operate chillers include:

• an improvement of the overall economics of the whole power park of the district heating system in general and of CHP-plants and incineration in particular
  
• a reduction in primary energy demand as it is more energy efficient than standard cooling systems.

Therefore SUMMERHEAT also indirectly supports the reduction of CO2-emissions in the EU and contributes to a security of energy supply.

SUMMERHEAT brings together 9 partner organisations from all over Europe to develop strategies for the increased usage of Summerheat in the participating regions. Based on in-depth market analyses of both the supply technologies and the demand side, proposals for improving the framework conditions are addressed to policy makers. Building owners and planners are addressed by a guideline that gives them comprehensive information about Summerheat. Feasibility studies demonstrate the supposed advantages of Summerheat.