Heat trading simulation tool

The distributed energy generation concept, where energy is produced close to where it is being used, has been thoroughly investigated in the case of electricity networks. However, until now limited attention has been paid to its potential application to heating networks. In a traditional district heating network, heat is generated in a large scale plant and distributed through a network of pipes to several consumer buildings. A micro Combined Heat and Power (µCHP) generation unit is an efficient means of producing both heat and electricity for a single building or a group of buildings. Within the frames of a district heating network connecting buildings equipped with such distributed generation units, a local heat trading market can be established. The core of heat trading concept is a possibility of an energy exchange between buildings via district heating network. Trading an excess of locally generated heat is possible to the neighbouring buildings or the district heating company. This kind of a market requires new business models enabling win-win situation between network operators, producers and consumers, and new simulation tools to face the increased complexity in planning and controlling district heating networks. One of the key objectives of the FP7 project IntUBE (Intelligent Use of Buildings' Energy information) is to demonstrate the heat trading concept with distributed µCHP through the design of an ICT tool. This tool enables the simulation of heat trading within virtual district heating networks and evaluation of its possible impact in terms of energy and cost savings.