A System Perspective on Energy End-Use Measures in a District Heated Region


Book Description

A district heating and cooling (DHC) system can be a viable piece of the puzzle in the efforts of reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Especially if the DHC system include combined heat and power (CHP) plants which enable electricity production from renewable resources. This is set forth in national energy targets and sustainable development goals (SDGs), adopted by the United Nations in 2015. Moreover, improved energy efficiency and energy savings are important factors in fulfilling the national targets of decreased energy intensity as well as reducing the use of fossil fuels. The aim of this thesis is to analyze the impacts of two energy end-use measures in a DHC network and their consequences on the efforts towards sustainable development. The end-use measures studied are (1) renovation of a multifamily building stock and (2) the use of a hydronic pavement system (HPS) including analysis of different control strategies. The end-use measures are assessed in terms of energy use and efficiency, use of renewable and fossil resources, and local and global GHG emissions. Lastly, it is analyzed how the results relate to national energy targets and SDGs. By using simulation and optimization models, several scenarios of end-use measures are analyzed in the two studies. In the first study, six scenarios are analyzed, as the renovation packages include measures on the envelope, ventilation and conversion from district heating to ground source heat pump. In the second study three scenarios are analyzed, where the HPS are operated all-time at a temperature below 4°C or are shut down at temperatures below -10°C or at temperatures below -5°C. The results of the study regarding the renovation of a multifamily building stock indicate a future reduction in heat demand. All scenarios show energy savings of the studied building, which ranged from 11% to 56%. All scenarios show a reduction in local GHG emissions, as well as reduced fossil fuel use. Although the largest reduction was found in the use of renewable resources. From a global perspective on GHG emissions, the scenarios with district heating out-performed measures with heat pump solutions in the studied system. Moreover, the study point to positive impacts on the efforts towards SDGs. To mitigate the reduced heat demand from the renovation of the building stock, an HPS may be used. The results show mostly renewable resources were used for the HPS. The use of HPS was found to generate a positive impact on global GHG emissions. A control strategy that shuts down the HPS at temperatures below -10°C would result in 10% energy saving and would maintain acceptable performance of the HPS. Furthermore, it would reduce the use of fossil fuel and reduce local GHG emissions by 25%. Moreover, an HPS may contribute to SDGs. It is concluded that energy end-use measures of renovating a multifamily building stock are vital in the work towards an improved energy intensity. However, these measures result in a decreased demand for heat in the DHC network. This can then lead to reduced electricity production from renewable resources in the CHP plants, which in turn have a negative impact on the global GHG emissions. By finding new applications, like HPS, the infrastructure of DHC networks could be utilized efficiently and serve as one piece of the puzzle that is the efforts towards sustainable development. Ett fjärrvärme- och fjärrkylenätverk kan vara en viktig del i arbetet att minska växthusgasutsläppen. Speciellt då ett fjärrvärme- och fjärrkylenätverk nyttjar kraftvärme, vilket möjliggör elproduktion från förnybara resurser. Detta efterfrågas i de nationella energimålen och i de globala målen för hållbar utveckling, även kallade Agenda 2030, som antogs av Förenta Nationerna 2015. Dessutom är förbättrad energieffektivitet och energibesparing viktiga faktorer för att nå de nationella energimålen för minskad energiintensitet. Syftet med denna avhandling är att analysera effekterna av två användningsåtgärder i ett fjärrvärme- och fjärrkylenätverk, samt dess konsekvenser för en hållbar utveckling. De åtgärder som undersöks är (1) renovering av ett flerbostadshusbestånd och (2) användningen av ett markvärmesystem. Användningsåtgärderna analyseras utifrån energianvändning och energibesparing, användning av förnybara och fossila resurser, samt lokala och globala växthusgasutsläpp. Slutligen analyseras hur resultaten relaterar till nationella energimålen och de globala målen för hållbar utveckling. Genom att använda simulerings- och optimeringsmodeller analyseras flera scenarier av användningsåtgärder i de två studierna. I den första studien analyseras sex scenarier, där renoveringsåtgärderna innehåller klimatskals- och ventilationsåtgärder, samt ett byte av värmesystem från fjärrvärme till värmepump. I den andra studien analyseras tre scenarier. Ett då markvärmesystemet drivs kontinuerligt vid en utomhustemperatur under 4° C, samt då systemet även stängs av eller försätts i viloläge vid utomhustemperaturer under -10°C respektive -5°C. Resultaten från den först studien pekar på ett minskat värmebehov i framtiden. Alla scenarierna innebar energibesparingar i den studerade byggnaden, som varierade från 11% till 56%. Alla scenarier uppvisade en minskning av lokala växthusgasutsläpp, samt minskning av fossil bränsleanvändning. Dock ses den största minskningen i användandet av förnybara resurser. I ett globalt perspektiv på växthusgasutsläpp, så presterar värmelösningar med fjärrvärme bättre än de med värmepump i de studerade systemen. Studien uppvisar positiva effekter på de nationella målen, samt de globala målen för hållbar utveckling. För att möta den minskade värmebehovet kan ett markvärmesystem nyttjas. Resultaten visar att främst förnybara resurser används. Användningen av markvärme har en positiv inverkan på globala växthusgasutsläpp och en kontrollstrategi som försätter markvärmesystemet i vila vid temperaturer under -10°C kan resultera i 10% energibesparing samtidigt som en acceptabel prestanda bibehålls. Detta minskar den fossila bränsleanvändningen, samt de lokala växthusgasutsläppen med 25%. Ett markvärmesystem kan bidra i arbetet med de nationella målen, samt de globala målen för en hållbar utveckling. Slutsatsen är att renovering av ett bestånd av flerbostadshus ska genomföras i arbetet för en minskad energiintensitet. Dessa åtgärder leder emellertid till en minskad efterfrågan på värme. Detta kan minska elproduktion från förnybara resurser i kraftvärmeanläggningarna, vilket i sin tur har en negativ inverkan på de globala växthusgasutsläppen. Genom att hitta nya applikationer, som markvärme, kan infrastrukturen i fjärrvärme- och fjärrkylenätverk nyttjas effektivt fortsättningsvis och fungera som en bit i pusslet för en hållbar utveckling.




District Heating and Cooling Networks


Book Description

Conventional thermal power generating plants reject a large amount of energy every year. If this rejected heat were to be used through district heating networks, given prior energy valorisation, there would be a noticeable decrease in the amount of fossil fuels imported for heating. As a consequence, benefits would be experienced in the form of an increase in energy efficiency, an improvement in energy security, and a minimisation of emitted greenhouse gases. Given that heat demand is not expected to decrease significantly in the medium term, district heating networks show the greatest potential for the development of cogeneration. Due to their cost competitiveness, flexibility in terms of the ability to use renewable energy resources (such as geothermal or solar thermal) and fossil fuels (more specifically the residual heat from combustion), and the fact that, in some cases, losses to a country/region’s energy balance can be easily integrated into district heating networks (which would not be the case in a “fully electric” future), district heating (and cooling) networks and cogeneration could become a key element for a future with greater energy security, while being more sustainable, if appropriate measures were implemented. This book therefore seeks to propose an energy strategy for a number of cities/regions/countries by proposing appropriate measures supported by detailed case studies.




Groundwater-surface Water Interaction


Book Description

Selected papers from a symposium on A new Focus on Integrated Analysis of Groundwater-Surface Water Systems, held during the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics XXIV General Assembly in Perugia, Italy, 11-13 July 2007.




Water Policy in Minnesota


Book Description

Minnesota has a unique role in U.S. water policy. Hydrologically, it is a state with more than 12,000 lakes, an inland sea, and the headwaters of three major river systems: the St Lawrence, the Red River of the North, and the Mississippi. Institutionally, Minnesota is also unique. All U.S. states use Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) approaches to addressing impaired waters. Every TMDL requires a substantial investment of resources, including data collection, modeling, stakeholder input and analysis, a watershed management plan, as well as process and impact monitoring. Minnesota is the only state in the union that has passed legislation (the 2007 Clean Water Legacy Act) providing significant resources to support the TMDL process. The book will be an excellent guide for policymakers and decision makers who are interested in learning about alternative approaches to water management. Non-governmental organizations interested in stimulating effective water quality policy will also find this a helpful resource. Finally, there are similarities between the lessons learned in Minnesota and the goals of water policy in several other states and nations, where there are competing uses of water for households, agriculture, recreation, and navigation.







Groundwater Depletion in the United States (1900?2008)


Book Description

A natural consequence of groundwater withdrawals is the removal of water from subsurface storage, but the overall rates and magnitude of groundwater depletion in the United States are not well characterized. This study evaluates long- term cumulative depletion volumes in 40 separate aquifers or areas and one land use category in the United States, bringing together information from the literature and from new analy- ses. Depletion is directly calculated using calibrated ground- water models, analytical approaches, or volumetric budget analyses for multiple aquifer systems. Estimated groundwater depletion in the United States during 1900-2008 totals approx- imately 1,000 cubic kilometers (km3). Furthermore, the rate of groundwater depletion has increased markedly since about 1950, with maximum rates occurring during the most recent period (2000-2008) when the depletion rate averaged almost 25 km3 per year (compared to 9.2 km3 per year averaged over the 1900-2008 timeframe).







Groundwater Optimization Handbook


Book Description

Existing and impending water shortages argue for improving water quantity and quality management. Groundwater Optimization Handbook: Flow, Contaminant Transport, and Conjunctive Management helps you formulate and solve groundwater optimization problems to ensure sustainable supplies of adequate quality and quantity. It shows you how to more effecti




Using Graywater and Stormwater to Enhance Local Water Supplies


Book Description

Chronic and episodic water shortages are becoming common in many regions of the United States, and population growth in water-scarce regions further compounds the challenges. Increasingly, alternative water sources such as graywater-untreated wastewater that does not include water from the toilet but generally includes water from bathroom sinks, showers, bathtubs, clothes washers, and laundry sinks- and stormwater-water from rainfall or snow that can be measured downstream in a pipe, culvert, or stream shortly after the precipitation event-are being viewed as resources to supplement scarce water supplies rather than as waste to be discharged as rapidly as possible. Graywater and stormwater can serve a range of non-potable uses, including irrigation, toilet flushing, washing, and cooling, although treatment may be needed. Stormwater may also be used to recharge groundwater, which may ultimately be tapped for potable use. In addition to providing additional sources of local water supply, harvesting stormwater has many potential benefits, including energy savings, pollution prevention, and reducing the impacts of urban development on urban streams. Similarly, the reuse of graywater can enhance water supply reliability and extend the capacity of existing wastewater systems in growing cities. Despite the benefits of using local alternative water sources to address water demands, many questions remain that have limited the broader application of graywater and stormwater capture and use. In particular, limited information is available on the costs, benefits, and risks of these projects, and beyond the simplest applications many state and local public health agencies have not developed regulatory frameworks for full use of these local water resources. To address these issues, Using Graywater and Stormwater to Enhance Local Water Supplies analyzes the risks, costs, and benefits on various uses of graywater and stormwater. This report examines technical, economic, regulatory, and social issues associated with graywater and stormwater capture for a range of uses, including non-potable urban uses, irrigation, and groundwater recharge. Using Graywater and Stormwater to Enhance Local Water Supplies considers the quality and suitability of water for reuse, treatment and storage technologies, and human health and environmental risks of water reuse. The findings and recommendations of this report will be valuable for water managers, citizens of states under a current drought, and local and state health and environmental agencies.