Digitalization of district heating and cooling systems

District heating and cooling (DHC) networks are traditionally operated with a limited number of controls to secure the required supply task and to optimize economics and ecologic performance. An optimized heat generation and overall network operation is possible with more information on the demand and flexibility options. A wider implementation of information and communication technologies opens up for better network management based on real time measurement data and for the integration of new digital business processes. For a further development it is needed to promote the opportunities of the integration of digital processes into DHC systems and to clarify the role of digitalization for different parts within district heating and cooling systems. Digital technologies are believed to make the whole energy system smarter, more efficient and reliable and to boost the efficiency and the integration of more renewables into the system. In the future, digital applications might enable district energy systems to fully optimize their plant and network operation while empowering the end consumer. On the other hand new challenges need to be tackled, such as data security and privacy as well as questions about data ownership. The paper presents and discusses the first results from the starting research work within the IEA DHC Annex TS4 on Digitalization of District Heating Systems – Optimized Operation and Maintenance of District Heating and Cooling Systems via Digital Process Management