Digitalization as the Enabler for High Performance District Heating Systems

About

Digital technologies are expected to improve the efficiency and system integration of additional renewable sources, as well as making the entire energy system reliable, smarter, and more efficient. Future digital applications may allow district energy systems to fully optimize the operation of their plant and network assets while realizing immediate and feasible decarbonization of urban heat supply: With data to optimize district heating systems and new business opportunities.

This conference offers information on cutting-edge technologies and solutions around digitalization measures in district heating supply systems and creates a forum for participants from business, research institutions, and politics to engage in discussions and in exchanging ideas on these topics in addition to allowing new research and technology to be presented. Thus, the conference provides an opportunity for an open interdisciplinary conversation on how to address the upcoming challenges of the digital energy transition

The presenters bring with them a wide range of expertise in digitalization solutions with a specific focus on the design and management of district heating systems. They additionally give insight into the development status of new digital business processes. 

This event completes the Annex TS4 project, "Digitalization of District Heating and Cooling: Optimised Operation and Maintenance of District Heating and Cooling Systems via Digital Process Management", which was carried out within the framework of the International Energy Agency's District Heating and Cooling Programme. It is organized in close collaboration with the Fraunhofer Cluster for Integrated Energy Systems (CINES).  

 

The conference aims to

  • Present activities, solutions and challenges from various perspectives
  • Discuss the role of digitalisation within a future decarbonated and integrated energy system
  • Gain an impression of current commercial solutions.

This conference is directed towards 

 

  • District heating network operators and energy suppliers 
 
  • Digitalisation solution providers (software and hardware, consultants) 
 
  • R&D institutes and universities 
 
  • Policy makers, energy authorities, and associations

 

The registration has been closed. 

Programme schedule / 20.11.2023

Agenda - Monday

12:30 - Coffee reception and registration

 

14:00 - Opening

  • Digitalization as Key Technology to Optimize District Heating | Robin Wiltshire, IEA DHC Chair, UK
  • Welcoming and the Role of Digitalization in German Energy Research | Tobias Heffels, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Germany
  • Introduction to the Conference Themes | Dietrich Schmidt, Fraunhofer IEE, Germany
  • Smart Thermal Networks in the European Union: Status, Trends and Outlook | Jonathan Volt, European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, Netherlands

 

 

 

 

15:15 - Challenges of Digitalization in District Heating
Chair: Dietrich Schmidt, Fraunhofer IEE, Germany

  • The Role of Digitalization for District Heating and Cooling Performance Upgrade: an Industry Perspective 
    Matteo Pozzi, Euroheat & Power / DHC+, Belgium
  • Industry Needs for Practical Implementation of Digitalization Processes
    Sebastian Grimm - Energy Efficiency Association for Heating, Cooling and CHP, Germany

15:45 - Coffee break

 

 

 

 

16:15 - Digitalization of the Demand Side
Chair: Michele Tunzi, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark

  • End-to-End Heat Supply System Optimization via Leanheat Software
    Oddgeir Gudmundsson, Danfoss AS, Denmark
  • Energy Meters and Submeters Data for Innovative Control and Operation of Heating Systems in Buildings
    Kees van der Veer, Brunata A/S, Denmark
  • District Heating Management
    Alessandro Capretti, A2A spa, Italy

17:00 - Coffee break

17:30 - Panel Discussion Industry | Science | Politics

District Heating Digitalization 
Implementation: Challenges, Motivators, Solutions

Chair: Marijke Welisch, Fraunhofer CINES, Germany 

Panel:

  • Industry:
    Bernd Rüger, Stadtwerke München, Germany
    Steen Schelle Jensen, Kamstrup AS, Denmark 
  • Science:
    Michele Tunzi, Technical University, Denmark
    Dietrich Schmidt, Fraunhofer IEE, Germany
  • Politics:
    Jonathan Volt, EC JRC, Netherlands
    Aksana Krasatsenka, Euroheat & Power / DHC+, Belgium

18:00 - Summary

 

19:30 - Conference Dinner

  • at Fraunhofer ENIQ

Programme schedule / 21.11.2023

Agenda - Tuesday

08:30 - Opening – coffee reception

 

09:15 - Digitalization to Link the Entire Supply Chain –
System Perspectives
Chair: Dirk Vanhoudt, Vito, Belgium

  • From the Substation Outwards – Anomalies, Prediction and Optimization | Nicola Kleppmann, SAMSON AG, Germany
  • The Glue of AI Solutions and the Energy Sector | Christian Johansson, Noda, Sweden
  • DistrictLab-H: a new Tool to Optimize the Design and Operation of District Heating and Cooling Networks | Roland Bavière, Hamid Larbi, DistrictLab.eu, France

 

 

10:00 - Digitalization of Energy Infrastructure 
Chair: Edmund Widl, AIT, Austria

  • Expanding System Boundaries with Flexibility
    Filippa Sandgren, Utilifeed, Sweden 
  • Advantages of Using Digital Twins for the Operation of District Heating Systems
    Ines Lindmeier, Wien Energie GmbH, Austria
  • Smart Management of Integrated Energy Systems Through Model Predictive Control
    Mirko Morini, University of Parma, Italy

10:45 - Coffee break

 

 

11:15 - Business Models – Unlocking the Value of Digitalization in DHC
Chair: Steen Schelle Jensen, Kamstrup AS, Denmark

  • Digitization of District Heating Quarters – a Cost Benefit Analysis
    Markus Blesl, Technical University of Stuttgart, Germany
  • Ideas on the Future Business Model of District Heating
    Kristina Lygnerud,  IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Sweden
  • Legal Requirements for Data Protection and Cybersecurity in the Digitalization of District Heating and Cooling
    Carsten von Gneisenau, Stiftung Umweltenergierecht, Germany

12:00 - Lunch

12:00 - Lunch Break

 

13:00 - Future Perspectives
Chair: Dietrich Schmidt, Fraunhofer IEE, Germany

  • Digitalization within the Energy Field:
    14 Propositions to Success!

    Manuel Wickert, Fraunhofer CINES, Germany
  • Final Discussion
    Current Challenges and Future Directions for District Heating Digitalization
    Dietrich Schmidt, Fraunhofer IEE, Germany
    Oddgeir Gudmundsson, Danfoss AS, Denmark
    Steen Schelle Jensen, Kamstrup AS, Denmark

 

 

13:50 - Closing Remarks on the Conference’s Theme

 

14:00 - Closing of the Day
Conference Chair: Dietrich Schmidt, Fraunhofer IEE, Germany

Contact

Dr. Dietrich Schmidt

dietrich.schmidt@iee.fraunhofer.de

The registration has been closed. 

Venue

Fraunhofer ENIQ 

EUREF-Campus 23/24 
10829 Berlin / Germany