TY - GEN A1 - Popovski, Eftim A1 - Ragwitz, Mario A1 - Brugger, Heike T1 - Decarbonization of district heating and deep retrofits of buildings as competing or synergetic strategies for the implementation of the efficiency first principle T2 - Smart Energy N2 - This paper discusses the compatibility of district heating (DH) networks with deep retrofits of buildings under various European climate conditions and city typologies. The study analyses five cities with different DH market shares, climate zones, population densities, and transferability potentials. First, we have forecasted population, heated floor area, and share of floor area per construction period until 2050, and then calculated three different heat demand scenarios for varying building refurbishment rates of 1%, 2%, and 3% of the total floor area. Second, future suitable DH regions with min 25 GWh/km2 networks were identified. By applying a bottom-up GIS model, based on the type of city area, number of buildings, street length, and heat density, the DH distribution capital and operation costs were calculated. Lastly, to compare the total cost of heat supply for each scenario, the cost of individual heat per building type was calculated. The results show that even in the scenarios with high refurbishment rates of 3%, high percentage of the built-up areas, between 23% and 68% depending on the city typology, are suitable for DH supply in 2050. The share of DH from the total heat supply varies between 49% and 83%. An increase of the DH price between 14% and 35%, depending on the scenario and case study can be expected due to the reduced heat densities compared to the current ones. Nevertheless, maximizing the DH connection rates in the identified regions leads to lower total cost of heat in almost all the analysed case studies. KW - Energy efficiency first principle KW - District heating networks KW - Bottom-up energy modelling KW - Geographic information system KW - Deep energy retrofit KW - Municipal heat planning Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.segy.2023.100096 SN - 2666-9552 VL - 10 ER - TY - GEN A1 - Popovski, Eftim A1 - Fleiter, Tobias A1 - Ragwitz, Mario T1 - The role of solar district heat in the energy transition of the German heating sector T2 - Energy N2 - This study explores the integration of solar district heating (SDH) into German heating networks, focusing on the energy transition in the heating sector. Utilizing energyPRO software, 8410 scenario variations were analysed, considering collector areas ranging from 1000 to 200 000 m2 and thermal storage capacities from 0 to 100 000 m³. The research identifies the most cost-effective SDH system designs, with solar fractions between 11 % and 18 % and collector area/storage ratios between 4 and 6.7, resulting in levelized costs of heat (LCOH) between 45 and 64 €/MWh. The techno-economic potential of SDH in Germany is estimated at 17.6 TWh by using a spatial analysis model. The paper presents sensitivity analyses and preliminary design equations, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of SDH's role in decarbonizing the heating sector. By integrating spatial data analysis with energy system modeling, the study offers a novel methodological approach, providing insights into the technical and economic feasibility of SDH systems in Northern Germany and similar climatic regions. The findings aim to assist policymakers and decision-makers in evaluating the costs and dimensions of SDH systems based on local heat demands and influencing economic and technical factors. Y1 - 2024 UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360544224029517?via%3Dihub VL - 310 PB - Elsevier ER -