Overview

A local authority client employed TEA to carry out a pre-feasibility study for a district heating system located in a small town in the west of the country. A district heating system harnesses waste heat from a local source to provide thermal energy to a number of highly energy-demanding buildings, such as hospitals and leisure centres. 

The outcome of the study provided the client with detailed insights into the practical and financial viability of such a project. It identified the best strategy for such a system in terms of harnessing potential heat sources, technologies worth investigating further as well as the pipework distribution routes available. Detailed costing was also provided to inform the client of operating and maintenance costs over the lifetime of the system. 

Additionally, carbon savings and a counterfactual comparison were reviewed to support the client’s decision-making process. 

The study included:

Mapping and analysis of the local area to identify zones of high thermal energy demand and the individual buildings contained therein.
Carry out detailed investigations on potential energy sources, the technology options for an energy centre, backup energy source and the optimal routes for an underground distribution pipe network.
A Techno-Economic Feasibility Analysis to evaluate technical commercial and financial viability.
Carbon savings and a counterfactual comparison were reviewed to support decision-making process for the client.
The use of specialist digital software was incorporated to model various district heating scenarios and to calculate energy demand, distribution heat losses, peak demand and load profiles.