roll-out, etc., represent somewhat of a paradigm shift in dis- trict heating. Previously, utility professionals would supply heat based mainly on assumptions, experience, and maybe a few critical metering points to increase the probability of it match- ing the need among consumers but not having the overview or all-important feedback loop to reveal if those assumptions were correct. Today, the opportunities available through smart meters and digitalisation tools focused on the consumer side give utilities a much more precise picture of the need they have to meet and how to do it most efficiently – again ensuring the best possible basis for optimising their entire value chain. Digi talisation even holds the potential to bring in the connected buildings as a truly active and integrated part of the system offering flexibility in the heat demand. Regarding demand-side data, it is worth considering the vary- ing progress of rolling out remotely-read smart meters – even though the EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) requiring European district heating utilities to provide customers with monthly information about their consumption became effec- tive as of October 2020. There is an explicit acknowledgement of the necessary action, but while some countries are more or less done, others are just starting to pick up speed.
Digital solutions enable district heating professionals to proac- tively ensure an always-optimised district heating system. This allows them to optimise heat production, reduce tempera tures, and lower heat loss while improving key areas such as asset management and customer service based on data-driven information. It is the foundation of integrating waste heat and renewables to become a greener, more resilient, and more attractive option – all contributing to understanding digitali sation as a sound and future-proof investment.
The demand side is underserved
The report also concludes that while there is no shortage of products, solutions, and services already available, by far, most of them are related to the production side of a district heating utility’s value chain. This includes, e.g., production optimisation, simulation, or planning systems. On the other hand, the demand side remains significantly neglected and underserved even though what happens inside the connected buildings in the network has a direct and massive impact on its perfor- mance.
In this way, the ongoing digitalisation efforts, smart meter
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