Peter Van Den Heede, Head of Sales and Marketing, Benelux, ABB Motion, explains how electrification systems are paving the way for sustainable urban landscapes.
As the fight against climate change intensifies, the European Union has set crystal clear targets on the path to Net Zero. If we are to meet the EU’s ambitious goals of a 55 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and complete climate neutrality by 2050, then we need to find ever-smarter ways to save energy.
District heating and cooling (DHC) systems, powered by low-carbon options like, biomass, geothermal energy, and waste heat, have long been recognized as a sustainable solution. However, the real breakthrough in decarbonizing urban heating emerges when district heating integrates with electrification. Indeed, the integration of DHC systems with electricity networks is emerging as a crucial step toward sustainable heating and cooling in urban areas worldwide.
Key Technologies For Sustainable Heating
Advanced technologies, including large-scale compressors, ultra-low harmonic drive solutions, and optimization software like ABB’s OPTIMAX™, play a pivotal role in managing energy flows and ensuring a balance between supply and demand. There has also been a significant shift toward combined heat and power (CHP) schemes, which are exemplary for their energy efficiency and contribution to grid stability.
This article explores in detail the combined potential of electrification and DHCs to deliver significant energy savings, and the key technologies paving the way to sustainable urban heating.
The challenges and opportunities of integrating renewables
Traditionally, of course, oil and gas were also considered to be a relatively low-cost source of energy
In the pursuit of sustainable urban heating, electrification refers to the process of expanding the use of electricity in a manner that prioritizes the planet. This includes the increasing integration of renewable energy sources, rather than traditional fossil fuels, to minimize the environmental impact.
Historic resistance to renewable energy for DHCs has largely been driven by an entrenched reliance on fossil fuels and their established, familiar infrastructure. Traditionally, of course, oil and gas were also considered to be a relatively low-cost source of energy. But with rising oil prices making alternative electricity generation more appealing, the landscape is shifting. This shift is particularly significant for heating systems with an electrical component, as they can leverage diverse energy sources, including renewables, which reduces their vulnerability to fluctuations in the price of oil.
And while fossil fuel technologies have long been perceived as more reliable and capable of providing consistent heat compared to renewable sources such as wind and solar – both of which are inherently intermittent – new technologies are unlocking the powerful synergies between DHCs and electrification to improve electrical grid power quality and efficiency, further supporting the case for renewable energy sources.
The merits of combined heat and power schemes
Combined heat and power (CHP) schemes have gained popularity across Europe as a sustainable heating and cooling solution, primarily due to their enhanced energy efficiency. CHP systems are designed to generate both electricity and useful heat simultaneously from a single energy source, such as natural gas, biomass, or waste heat. This dual production of energy significantly improves overall efficiency compared to separate electricity and heat generation methods, reducing the environmental impact and resource consumption.
CHP systems are designed to induce electricity and useful heat simultaneously from a single source
Utilizing waste heat that would otherwise be discarded, such as in space or water heating, can help reduce the demand for conventional heating fuels. CHPs maximize the use of available energy, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and increasing sustainability in district heating systems. Additionally, CHPs can be integrated with a variety of renewable energy sources and can contribute significantly to grid stability by switching swiftly between alternative heat sources. But opportunities can also be found right under our feet. Such was the case in Denmark, where an underground water source proved pivotal in supplying carbon-neutral heating to an entire town.
Transforming district heating in Broager, Denmark
The district heating and cooling facility in Broager faced the challenge of achieving carbon neutrality while efficiently meeting the energy needs of its community of approximately 1,200 people. With the increasing global emphasis on sustainability, there was a need to transition from conventional heating methods to more eco-friendly alternatives.
Broager District Heating (BDH) pioneered a sustainable solution by implementing a comprehensive district heating system. The key components of this solution included harnessing solar and geothermal energy and utilizing the local groundwater as a heat source. BDH adopted pioneering edge technologies, such as a first-of-its-kind groundwater heat pump system, a vast solar thermal collector system, and an electrical boiler for heating the cool groundwater. ABB components, including advanced variable speed drives (VSDs) and motors, are playing a crucial role in optimizing the system's performance.
Integration of ABB components
The intuitive and user-friendly nature of ABB drives facilitated seamless operation and maintenance
The geothermal heat pump, a standout feature of the system, extracted thermal energy from underground water, achieving an impressive Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 4, meaning it produced 4 kW of heat for every 1 kW of electricity input. ABB’s drives were employed to regulate motor speeds in the compressors, ensuring energy efficiency and enabling significant energy savings, of up to 60 percent. The intuitive and user-friendly nature of ABB drives facilitated seamless operation and maintenance.
Broager District Heating's commitment to sustainable practices resulted in a district heating facility that is almost 100 percent carbon neutral. The integration of ABB components, particularly variable speed drives (VSDs) to regulate compressor motors, contributed to remarkable energy savings and efficiency improvements.
VSDs and high-efficiency motors offer next-level power savings
Motors used in district energy systems usually run constantly at full speed. To adjust the airflow of a fan or the flow from a pump, operators generally use mechanical methods such as throttling, which is inefficient and energy-wasting. However, adopting VSDs can significantly reduce energy consumption in heat generation since they will adjust the motors’ speed to suit an application’s exact requirements. Depending on the application, VSDs can generally produce energy savings of 20 to 60 percent.
Depending on the application, VSDs can generally produce energy savings of 20 to 60 percent
Network operators can further reduce energy consumption in heat generation, transmission, and distribution by pairing VSDs with the latest IE4 or IE5 efficiency class motors, instantly reducing a facility’s carbon footprint. In the context of today’s escalating energy costs, return on investment is often realized within a year or less. Ultra-low harmonic (ULH) drives present a further opportunity to improve energy efficiency, by minimizing electrical disturbances and reducing power losses, ensuring a smoother and more efficient conversion of electrical energy into mechanical power.
Digitalization for improved reliability
District energy systems must demonstrate a consistently high degree of reliability and efficiency. Facility managers are increasingly digitalizing processes with smart sensors and connectivity devices to improve performance.
The most advanced drive systems can even automatically detect blockages in air systems, gears needing lubrication, and heat pumps facing bearing failures. Sensors placed throughout the entire DHC system enable proactive maintenance by allowing operators to spot possible issues before they present major problems that could result in unscheduled downtime.
ABB’s OPTIMAX™ software platform
Ability to monitor and optimize the district heating system in an integrated way across all power streams
The ability to monitor and optimize the district heating system in an integrated manner across all energy streams is where the synergy with the electrical grid really shines, like with ABB’s OPTIMAX™ software platform. It not only ensures that the total carbon emissions and energy costs are significantly reduced, but also that the resilience of both the heating and electrical grid is improved due to the addition of a forecasting and optimal planning step.
This is especially valuable in highly congested areas, where normal operations would more quickly reach their technical limits, pioneering to serious, unplanned downtime. Luckily, these software applications have seen multiple decades of development time and are robust and proven technologies.
The future landscape
Improving energy efficiency is not a choice. It’s a necessity if we are to combat climate change. Here, the dynamic synergy between DHC systems and electrification emerges as a vital step, creating powerful sustainability opportunities and standing as a pivotal cornerstone in our quest for carbon neutrality. Recent and planned energy projects across Europe underscore the importance of these synergies. For example, in Belgium, the Antwerp 2030 roadmap is utilizing a citywide heat network to annually reduce CO2 emissions by 71,000 tons by 2030.
While in Denmark, Aalborg’s ambitious plan for a 176 MW heat pump exemplifies the potential of such pumps in creating a more sustainable urban heating ecosystem. Furthermore, localized heat islands in areas like Kiel, Germany present a tangible vision of the future of DHC based on sustainable heat sources. The smart and powerful mix of high-efficiency components, optimization software, and integrated heat and electric synergies is a winning combination that will undoubtedly accelerate our journey toward a greener future.