• Decarbonising district heating: A profitable pathway to net-zero​

    Sector coupling of district heating and power systems is transformative for Europe's energy future.​

District heating plays a crucial role in accelerating decarbonisation by providing a flexible, integrated, and renewable-based energy system.

District heating is a profitable pathway to net zero.

It is an underutilised flexible energy solution for Europe to achieve cost-effective decarbonisation when used with Combined Heat and Power (CHP) engines.

It has vast potential to drastically scale renewable energy usage by drawing on various renewable and low-carbon heat sources, thus reducing dependency on fossil fuels. 

Webinar: Decarbonising district heating and cooling: a profitable pathway to net-zero

Video Thumbnail
1:08:36
0:00

Flexible solutions to advance low-carbon district heating & power generation

This report showcases ways to decarbonise fossil (particularly coal) based district heating systems in a commercially viable way and the role flexible generation technologies (particularly gas-engines) could play in this transition, while identifying roadblocks to decarbonisation in the fields of market structure, regulation, capabilities and market trends.

The study establishes the stack of revenues available for internal combustion engine combined heat and power installations (ICE-CHP):

  • Heat sale revenues
  • Electricity wholesale market revenues (incl. longer-term flexibility)
  • Provision of ancillary services (aFRR/mFRR)
  • Revenue from capacity remuneration mechanisms (CRMs)
  • Congestion management revenues
  • Subsidies





Combined heat and power technology

With its district heating technologies, Wärtsilä is at the forefront of the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future and helps to accelerate to the most reliable, cost optimal, and net zero energy future. 

Sector coupling of district heating and power systems plays an increasingly important role and is transformative for Europe’s energy future. Combined heat and power engines and flexible technology like heat pumps optimise energy use. They dynamically select between heat and power production technologies to adapt to market prices, maximising economic returns. For example, when renewable energy is abundant, heat pumps and electric boilers absorb the extra energy. When solar and wind are low, these engines produce heat for cities and power for the grid, keeping energy supply reliable. 

The Wärtsilä Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant is a cost-effective and innovative solution where total efficiency can exceed 90%. The most common heat products are hot water or steam, which makes it perfect for both industrial and district heating purposes. 

  • Combined heat and power (CHP) plants

    Wärtsilä combined heat and power (CHP) plants are designed to meet the customer's specific needs, be it steam generation, district heating, hot or chilled water, or a combination of the above.

    Discover our engine technology

Related technologies

Get in touch with our District Heating expert

"District heating has untapped potential in Europe to be a profitable pathway to net zero. It is more than just heating homes – it is about enabling renewable energy growth, offering flexibility, and creating a viable solution for coal-dependent countries transitioning to cleaner energy."

Igor Petryk

Market Development Director

Wärtsilä Energy


References

  • Flexible combined heat and power plant (CHP) enabling coal phase-out in Bremen, Germany

    Wärtsilä and Uniper enable a revenue-adding transition from coal to gas for public utility swb Erzeugung in Bremen, Germany.

    Read More
  • DREWAG_ (1920 x 690 px)
    Flexible combined heat and power plant (CHP) enabling energy transition in Germany

    DREWAG, the local utility company in Dresden, is taking on the German energy transition by investing in a flexible 94-MW combined heat and power (CHP) engine power plant from Wärtsilä.

    Read More

Articles

Wärtsilä 20 marine engine
10 Apr 2024 · Article
3 min read
Gas Engines are the Perfect Solution for Energy Transition
As the world continues its journey towards a sustainable future, the debate over the best...
Heat and power for Energiewende, Germany’s renewable energy transition
31 May 2019 · Article
7 min read
Heat and power for Energiewende, Germany’s renewable energy transition
Wärtsilä has recently been awarded contracts to develop hundreds of megawatts...
Details of the Sunship ( Sonnenschiff ) in Freiburg, Germany
25 Jun 2020 · Article
4 min read
Sector coupling key to the future of Germany’s clean energy transformation
Germany has been a strong advocate for the transition to renewable...
Vantaan Energia Wärtsilä article
24 Aug 2021 · Article
7 min read
The building blocks of decarbonisation: Power-to-X and sector coupling
Power-to-X will be one of the key solutions to accelerate the energy...

Press releases

More on our local websites

Wärtsilä Energy. Let's connect.