Low carbon district heating in China in 2025- a district heating mode with low grade waste heat as heat source

Abstract Clean district heating systems are needed in large cities, especially in Northern China. This paper presents a low carbon district heating system that features a low return water temperature, use of low grade waste heat as the main heat source, long distance heat transmission with a large temperature difference, distributed peak heating load addition by natural gas and heat-power decoupling with heat pump and thermal storage. This Low carbon district heating 2025 system is suitable for large cities, large waste heat sources, high heating densities and the utilization of using existing large heating networks in almost all the cities of Northern China. These clean heating systems in Chinese cities have great potential to reduce energy use, reduce emissions and improve the district heating system economics.