Innovation Possibilities of Solar District Heating Systems with Seasonal Heat Storage
Abstract
The need for higher share of solar energy in the EU’s energy mix shall lead to a more intensive use of heating systems working with seasonal heat storage in the near future. Such a system is usually extended with a boiler burning fossil fuels. However, a biofuel burning boiler could be an advantageous solution in several cases. The share of utilized solar energy in solar district heating systems based on a seasonal storage can reach 40 up to 70 %. These systems are in the initial phase of research and development, however, some experience from more demonstration projects are already available. A working group of the Faculty of Civil Engineering of Technical University of Kosice devotes its intellectual potential to this topic. Starting from the experiences of the recently operating district heating systems based on seasonal heat storage, its research focuses on innovation of these systems. An innovated system must be capable of covering not only the space heating demand of the buildings from renewable energy sources, but in a large amount or even completely the electric energy and cooling demand.