Energy systems in many countries are undergoing a transition from largely being based on few condensing mode central power plants, to among other being based on more geographically distributed productions at District Energy (DE) plants.

Flexible DE plants have an important role in the transition to a renewable energy system and may become major actors in integrating wind and solar power, when equipped with amongst others combined heat and power units and heat pumps producing both heating and cooling, and when equipped with large energy stores.

This integration of the DE plants with the rest of the energy system will often be based on biddings in electricity and fuel markets, being affected by fluctuating energy sources, as well as being affected by complex subsidy schemes and energy taxes. This calls for new generalized tools which can analyse very different alternatives for DE plants providing heating and cooling. The research made in this PhD study concerns the development of this next generation energy system simulation tools for designing and operating DE plants.

assessment committee

Associate Professor Karl Sperling, Aalborg University (Chairman)
Associate Professor Gorm Bruun Andresen, Aarhus University
Dr.–ing. Bernhard Wille-Haussmann, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE

supervisor

Professor WSR Poul Alberg Østergaard, Aalborg University

moderator

Professor Henrik Lund, Department of Planning, Aalborg University