Decarbonization of district heating systems : master's thesis

Sektor grijanja i hlađenja zaslužan je za oko 40% emisija stakleničkih plinova i predstavlja jedan od najvećih izazova energetske tranzicije prema obnovljivim izvorima energije. Još veći izazov predstavljaju centralizirani toplinski sustavi, budući da su potrebni veliki kapaciteti proizvodnje energije, ali i visoke temperature zbog trenutnih zahtjeva potrošača i distribucijske mreže. Upravo je to razlog malog postotka obnovljivih izvora energije implementiranih u CTS. Budućnost CTS-a predstavljaju nisko-temperaturni sustavi, odnosno sustavi pete generacije. Za njihovo uspješno implementiranje potrebno je stvoriti adekvatnu distribucijsku mrežu, ali i smanjiti temperaturne zahtjeve potrošača kroz renovaciju zgrada i sustava grijanja. U ovom radu prikazana je trenutna situacija CTS-a u Europi i Hrvatskoj, problemi i prednosti implementacije OIE te primjeri dobre prakse dekarbonizacije centralnih toplinskih sustava.The heating and cooling sector is responsible for about 40% of greenhouse gas emissions and it represents one of the biggest challenges in the energy transition to renewable energy sources. Even more challenging are district heating systems (DHS), as large energy production capacities are needed, but also high temperatures due to current consumer and distribution network requirements. This is the cause for small percentage of renewable energy sources (RES) implemented in the DHS. The future of DHS is represented by low-temperature systems i.e., fifth-generation systems. For their successful implementation, it is necessary to create an adequate distribution network, but also to reduce the temperature requirements of consumers through the renovation of buildings and heating systems in the buildings. This paper presents the current situation of DHS in Europe and Croatia, problems and advantages of RES implementation, and examples of good practice in the decarbonization of central heating systems