IEA Project Annex TS4

Digitalization in the supply of district heating is the key to making the entire district heating system, from the producer to the end customer, more efficient and conserving resources. In particular, for a future energy system in which decentralized and fluctuating renewable heat from different sources is to be integrated into a supply network, new digitally based controls are essential for the safe and optimized operation of the system.

The international cooperation project IEA DHC Annex TS 4 shows the possibilities for the integration of digital processes in district heating systems, as well as the role of digitalization in the various steps of operation (and maintenance) of the systems. Furthermore, the partners' work will demonstrate the practical use of these technologies and address new challenges such as data security or privacy, as well as the question of data ownership.

Building on this objective, the project pursues the following goals:

• Raising awareness of the benefits of integrating digital processes among different stakeholder groups and users through workshops and publications.
• Compilation of the current state of science and technology, as well as the creation of an overview of the status of digitization measures in research, demonstration, and implementation projects.
• Evaluation of non-technical opportunities and obstacles for the digitalization of processes in district heating, such as business models, legal aspects, and political instruments/procedures.

The cooperative project IEA DHC Annex TS 4: "Digitalization of District Heating and Cooling: Optimized Operation and Maintenance of District Heating and Cooling Systems via Digital Process Management" is being carried out as part of the Technology Collaboration Programme (TCP) District Heating and Cooling (DHC) of the International Energy Agency (IEA).