Project Summary & Targets

The development of an efficient energy supply within the European Union is a recognized necessity. It is needed to lower the high dependency on energy imports, to counter rising prices for fossil fuels, and to fulfil the obligations for climate protection. The further development of energy efficient CHP and RES-Heat technologies is a substantial element for the success of the European energy strategy. The main bottleneck for an increased use of capital-intensive CHP technologies and incinerators (waste, RES) in district heating systems is the low system load during the summer months. Hence, especially in summer the waste heat from CHP-technologies and incineration plants in district heating networks (Summerheat) can be used as a heat source for the operation of chillers.

Within the project, strategies for the increased usage of Summerheat have been developed for the participating regions. Proposals for improving the framework conditions have been addressed to policy makers; building owners and planners have been addressed by a guideline that gives them comprehensive information about Summerheat. This work have been based on an in-depth market analysis of both the supply technologies and the demand side. Feasibility studies have been carried out in all involved regions in order to demonstrate the supposed advantages of Summerheat to interested building owners. Targeted development and improvement suggestions for the general framework conditions, information dissemination and other supportive actions to develop the market for Summerheat have contributed to improve the situation considerably.

The project consortium defined six main targets for the Summerheat action to achieve:

• Providing an overview on the current market situation for Summerheat in Europe
  
• Specifying the framework conditions in the partner countries and bringing out the barriers
  
• Identifying necessary developments and implementation strategies for increasing the use of Summerheat as a sustainable technology
  
• Removing barriers through targeted actions addressing the key actors on national and international level – elaborating advice for a political strategy
  
• Building a cooperation network with the key actors: investors, municipalities, District heating suppliers
  
• Implementing a dissemination strategy on international and national level to encourage project development throughout Europe.