Framework for the development of the district heating supply

In an analysis for VEKS (the district heating company for the western suburban area of Copenhagen), Ea has mapped and looked at the framework for the development of the district heating supply in the capital area, including important EU framework and various relevant conditions in Denmark. The analysis was to work as background material for a new supply plan, which VEKS completed in the winter of 2023.

The heat production in the capital area mostly comes from waste incineration and biomass fired CHP today. In the coming years it is likely that new heat sources need to be incorporated into the supply. This will probably most likely be electricity-based heat, meaning electric boilers and heat pumps, and including surplus heat. The regulation of these other heat production technologies, which potentially can contribute to a future higher capacity, were therefore also examined in the analysis.

In addition to the Danish regulation of the heat supply, which is mainly anchored in the heat supply law and the project order for collective heat supply systems, there are a number of other framework conditions such as tax rules, environmental regulation, support and subsidy schemes for new technology, regulation of the electricity network and market etc. Furthermore, the Danish framework for district heat supply is affected by European regulation, including the energy efficiency directive from the EU, the RE directive, and LULUCF regulation.

The project ran from May to November 2023.