Heat Roadmap Europe: Identifying the balance between saving heat and supplying heat. (15th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hansen, Kenneth; Connolly, David; Lund, Henrik; Drysdale, David; Thellufsen, Jakob Zinck
• Is Part Of: Energy. Volume 115:Part 3(2016)
• Page Start: 1663
• Page End: 1671
• Publication Date: 2016-11-15
• Subjects: Heat savings -- Heat supply -- Energy efficiency -- Renewable energy -- National energy systems -- Levelised costs; Power resources -- Periodicals; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy consumption -- Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2016.06.033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-5442

Abstract

Abstract: The cost of heat savings in buildings increase as more heat savings are achieved and hence, alternatives other than savings typically become more economically feasible at a certain level of heat reductions. The challenge addressed in this paper is to identify when the cost of heat savings become more expensive than the cost of sustainable heat supply, so society does not overinvest in heat saving measures. This study first investigates the heat saving potentials for different countries in Europe, along with their associated costs, followed by a comparison with alternative ways of supplying sustainable heating. Furthermore, the levelised cost of supplying sustainable heat is estimated for both a single technology and from an energy system perspective. The results are analysed by assessing various parameters such as socio-economic costs and energy efficiency improvements in the national energy systems. The results demonstrate the economically feasible levels of heat savings and heat production for various European countries, highlighting differences in their national conditions and energy systems. The findings in this paper indicate that overinvestments in heat savings can be avoided by saving heat until a level around 30–50% of projected heat demands and supplying the remaining heat demand with sustainable heat sources. Highlights: The feasibility of heat savings in national energy systems are investigated. The balance between heat savings and heat supply is identified. Two methods for identifying heat savings are applied and compared. Results indicate that there is an optimal level of heat savings.