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Decarbonisation of District Heating (DH) networks is essential to achieving the European Union’s climate goals. In this context, there is growing interest among DH stakeholders in the recovery and reuse of underutilised heat sources. Waste heat recovery from district cooling (DC) networks offers a compelling option that can be used as input for various heat pump integrated DH solutions. In this regard, absorption heat pumps (AHP) showcase a promising solution to elevate a lower-temperature waste heat source with reduced electricity consumption. However, AHPs are not widely applied in DH context, primarily due to the lack of suitable waste heat sources or the necessary conditions for their effective operation. This article aims to explore various configurations of AHP and their potential integration with DC plant waste heat for DH application. The potential for adopting AHPs to boost efficiency and lower carbon emissions is evaluated through a techno-economic examination of three distinct technological configurations. For Tallinn case study, it was observed that AHPs can be more efficient, reduce energy consumption, and achieve a lower LCOH while being combined with HP condenser cooling. This study is expected to provide a theoretical support for the positive impact of using AHPs to reduce the usage of fossil fuels in the Tallinn DH network.

With the prevalent energy crisis and climate changes, decarbonising energy sector has become the need of the hour. An environmentally friendly way is the utilisation of solar energy which mainly involves the deployment of photovoltaic (PV) and/or solar thermal technology. Unlike electricity generation, the application of photovoltaics for the district heating & cooling (DHC) is relatively new. Also, this energy route is yet to be fully explored. This paper aims to provide an overview of the photovoltaic applications in the context of DHC sector. At first, the utilisation of solar energy in the DHC sector is briefly described and then the review of the available literature is carried out. It was understood that PV integration in the district heating and/or district cooling system can take place in different topologies such as PV technology, energy storage, and system configuration (centralized/distributed). On one side, this technology options support design flexibility based on local scenarios (i.e., climatic conditions, building types, energy cost). On the other side, selecting the best configuration remains a challenging task for design and planning engineers. The research database on the studied topic needs to be enhanced, with a focus on PV’s role in district cooling (DC). It is deduced that right technical and economic boundary conditions in the chosen region is important for the accelerated photovoltaic integration. Also, lower environmental impact throughout the whole life cycle of solar PV integrated DHC system is reported. PV assisted DC systems have the potential to revolutionize cooling sector, especially in the places where daytime electricity costs are high. Based on the SWOT analysis, it is concluded that there is an enormous opportunity for PV integration in the DHC sector with the upgradations in DH networks, developing DC networks and rising adoption of HPs. This overview is expected to be beneficial to researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders of district energy sector.

The aim of this study is to demonstrante Estonian Energy Roadmap 2040 modelling process, taking into account energy consumption in accordance with the expectation and improvement of the living standard. In the frame of this study, the evaluation of the possibility for Estonian Energy sector to become carbon neutral by 2040 have been presented. The methodology employed in this study consist of two main phases. Firstly, data collection and inputs from a number of experts and stakeholders who is working in Estonian energy sector. Secondly, technical and economic analyses using mathematical excel model. Additionally, energyPRO is used generate hour by hour computer simulations to assess the electricity grid's ability to supply Estonia's hourly energy demand The roadmap to climate neutrality models three sectors: electricity, heating / cooling and transport together, aiming at reducing overall energy consumption, sustainability, security of national supply and the implementation of balanced economic principles. Balanced economic principles in this case mean high resource efficiency and reduced amount of subsidies. Results of modelling show energy demand, energy mix and carbon emissions for these sectors in 2030 and 2040 and are compared with these indicators in 2021. The study estimates the amount of investment required to achieve carbon neutrality of Estonian energy sector. In assessing the future economy, the total environmental impact of activities, the preservation of the well-being of the Estonian population and economic reasonableness are examined in parallel with traditional economic indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]