District Heating Organizations Maximize Flexibility With Thermal Storage At Zero Operational Risks
District heating companies are introducing renewable energy sources to replace fossil fuels. Such energy generators operate at lower temperatures than conventional ones, which changes operating strategies and increases complexity, especially in times of high demand. To maintain operational and economic stability, district heating companies are taking various hardware and software measures. Thermal storage solutions (also known as buffers or accumulators) offer additional flexibility of action and have become an important asset for companies. However, the question remains: how and when to use thermal storage?
District heating companies are introducing renewable energy sources to replace fossil fuels. Such energy generators operate at lower temperatures than conventional ones, which changes operating strategies and increases complexity, especially in times of high demand. To maintain operational and economic stability, district heating companies are taking various hardware and software measures. Thermal storage solutions (also known as buffers or accumulators) offer additional flexibility of action and have become an important asset for companies. However, the question remains: how and when to use thermal storage?
To leverage all possible thermal storage benefits, many questions need to be answered. When is the most optimal time to charge and discharge the thermal storage? And what source is charging the buffer with what temperature – and how much energy will be stored? What companies need is real-time insights into their accumulators, combined with end-to-end data that shows them when to do what. Here are three key factors that explain why this is key for accumulator success:
1. The network impacts how much heat is available in the accumulator
2. External price signals change every day and throughout the year
3. Production schedule changes daily based on demand
To optimize the operation of thermal storage with flexibility and reliability in mind, organizations need to consider all the aspects of the heating system, from end-user demand and network dynamics to production schedule and electricity market volatility using end-to-end digital tooling such as Digital Twins.
Mantova’s district heating operator, SEI, has implemented a Digital Twin solution that allows it to dynamically optimize temperatures for peak demands by providing a real-time, end-to-end view into the decentralized thermal storage. With one of the objectives to reduce peak temperatures to lower overall heat losses, the Digital Twin solution forecasts supply temperatures as well as charging/discharging cycles at the same time. As a result, the amount of energy stored is optimized, and sudden supply peaks are avoided. Together with other insights from the Digital Twin such as implementation of the recommended operating parameters, SEI increased its heating grid’s real-world efficiency and a decrease in annual CO2 emissions of over 550 tons.
