Simulating conditions for combined heat and power in the Swedish district heating sector
Doktorsavhandling, 2005
The most important issues in the European energy sector today are how to
increase competitiveness on the energy markets, reduce both CO2 emissions and
dependence on imported fuels. These issues are also important aspects of Swedish energy
policy. In Sweden, the district heating (DH) sector has commonly been used to achieve
Swedish energy policy goals. However, the ongoing integration and deregulation of the
energy markets in Europe now means that the Swedish DH sector can also play an
important role in achieving international targets. This thesis investigates the extent to
which the Swedish DH sector can contribute to compliance with current energy policy
targets, both international and Swedish. The study consisted of simulations of the
Swedish DH sector response to various policy instruments in a model that takes the local
features of virtually all Swedish DH systems into account. The findings show, for
example, that there is great potential for combined heat and power (CHP) generation in
the Swedish DH sector. By exporting this CHP electricity to other European countries
with less effective and fossil dependent power generation plants, the CO2 emissions from
the European energy sector could be substantially reduced. This would also result in
increased security of supply and competitiveness in the EU, since fuel use would be more
effective. In Sweden, increased CHP generation would also be a way of maintaining an
effective national security of supply of power.
System analysis
Combined heat and power
Tradable green certificates
District heating
Tradable emission permits
13.00 HA2, Hörsalsvägen 4, Göteborg
Opponent: Tekn. Dr. Mats Söderström, IKP energisystem, Linköpings tekniska högskola, Linköping, Sweden