Research Projects: Completed projects 2005 - 2008 / Annex VIII
Introduction
The International Energy Agency (IEA) was established in 1974 in order to strengthen the co-operation between member countries and reduce the dependency on oil and other fossil fuels. Thirty years later, the IEA again drew attention to serious concerns about energy security, investment, the environment and energy poverty. The global situation is resulting in soaring oil and gas prices, the increasing vulnerability of energy supply routes and ever-increasing emissions of climate-destabilising carbon dioxide.
At the 2005 Gleneagles G8 an important role was given to the IEA in advising on alternative energy scenarios and strategies aimed at a clean, clever and competitive energy future. Two years later, at the Heiligendamm G8, it was agreed that “instruments and measures will be adopted to significantly increase the share of combined heat and power (CHP) in the generation of electricity”. District Heating and Cooling is an integral part of the successful growth of CHP: heat networks distribute what would otherwise be waste heat to serve local communities.
The IEA is active in promoting and developing knowledge of District Heating and Cooling: while the DHC programme (below) itself is the major global R&D programme, the IEA Secretariat has also initiated the International DHC/CHP Collaborative the kick-off event of which took place in March 2, 2007 with a 2-year Work Plan aiming to raise the profile of DHC/CHP among policymakers and industry. More information on the Collaborative is to be found on IEA's website www.IEA-org.
The major international R&D programme for DHC/CHP
DHC is an integrative technology that can make significant contributions to reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and air pollution and to increasing energy security.
The fundamental idea of DHC is simple but powerful: connect multiple thermal energy users through a piping network to environmentally optimum energy sources, such as combined heat and power (CHP), industrial waste heat and renewable energy sources such as biomass, geothermal and natural sources of heating and cooling.
The ability to assemble and connect thermal loads enables these environmentally optimum sources to be used in a cost-effective way, and also offers ongoing fuel flexibility. By integrating district cooling carbon-intensive electrically-based air-conditioning, rapidly growing in many countries, can be displaced.
As one of the IEA's 'Implementing Agreements', the District Heating & Cooling programme is the major international research programme for this technology. Active now for more than 25 years, the full name of this Implementing Agreement is 'District Heating and Cooling including the integration of Combined Heat and Power'. Participant countries undertake co-operative actions in energy research, development and demonstration.
Programme aims
The 'IEA Implementing Agreement on District Heating & Cooling including the integration of CHP' (DHC/CHP) is a programme that conducts highly effective Research and Development as well as policy analysis of District Heating and Cooling systems with low environmental impact through international collaboration.
We are furthering this mission by selecting, managing and publishing collaborative co-funded projects collating and exchanging information on R&D projects between countries.
Furthermore the Executive Committee strongly supports the co-operation with other IEA programmes. In particular the DHC/CHP programme is involved in the Building Co-ordination Group and contributes actively towards successful meetings and positive exposure of the results of these meetings, projects and other activities.
The activities of the DHC Programme started in 1983, each period of co-operation consists of a three-year period, which we call Annexes. This brochure gives information about the projects of Annex VIII.
More information about each project and our history can be found else on this website.
DHC/CHP Annex VIII Projects
In May 2005 Annex VIII started, with the participation from Canada, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America.
Below you will find the Annex VIII research projects undertaken by the Implementing Agreement "District Heating & Cooling including the Integration of Combined Heat and Power".
Nuon Tecno B.V.
Project Leader: Mr Bert van de Klippe
8DHC-08-05
Click the project titles and you will find the full reports of the Annex VIII project. Reports will only be available digitally.
Benefits of membership
Membership of this implementing agreement fosters sharing of knowledge
and current best practice from many countries including those where:
DHC is already a mature industry
DHC is well established but refurbishment is a key issue
DHC is not well established.
Membership proves invaluable in enhancing the quality of support given under national programmes. Participant countries benefit through the active participation in the programme of their own consultants and research organisations. Each of the projects is supported by a team of experts, one from each participant country. As well as the final research reports, other benefits include sharing knowledge and ideas and opportunities for further collaboration.
New member countries are very welcome – please simply contact us (see below) to discuss.
