Regional feasibility studies of new DH in Basque Country and Mazovia Region

This report defines a procedure for the identification of opportunities for waste heat reuse with a practical application based on real data from the Basque country and the Mazovia regions.

Phase 1 of the regional study is about the energy and administrative planning of DH in consolidated urban environments. It sets the methodology to define roadmaps for the planning of new DH networks in existing urban areas. This methodology is developed through its practical applications, with the identification of potential sources. Technical, administrative, and financial constraints are considered in the identification of these potential sources.

Phase 2 focuses on where potential DH development has been identified at a regional scale. Following Phase 1 and regional workgroups, potential sites for DH development are identified based on predefined key factors such as

• economic factors,
• available residual industrial heat,
• vicinity of urban areas.

Each region analysed a set of 2-3 locations based on these criteria. This resulted in the identification of at least one suitable location per region, for the deployment of a new DH network with the RELaTED configuration, based on a feasibility study.

The work carried out allows for the definition of an implementation roadmap based on the studied areas, but with application to other regions. The roadmap lists every step which must be considered to identify potential areas where a low temperature DH based on industrial waste heat can be located. The roadmap should be carried out by a public entity in the region, to have a general vision of the possibilities of this technology, as well as promote every project that can be made.

The full study is available in English.