Is District Heating More Energy Efficient than Individual Heating?

초록

Combined heat and power (CHP) and district heating (DH) promotion policies are based on the assumption of high energy efficiencies. In the last two decades, however, there has been a big increase in energy efficiencies of combined-cycle gas power plants (CCs) including CHPs and gas-condensing boilers. This study tries to verify the superiority of district heating (CHP system) over individual heating (SHP system) claimed by proponents in terms of energy efficiency. The comparison between a modern CHP system and a modern SHP and the experience in the agglomeration of Seoul show that DH in combination with large modern CHPs is not more energy efficient compared to individual gas heating by efficient condensing boilers in combination with CCs. Governments should review and revise their support policy for district heating as its assumptions can be no longer maintained. Such a policy intervention only distorts the space heating market and wastes valuable financial resources.