TransUrban.NRW – Untersuchung und Messung externer Flexibilitätspotentiale in der urbanen Wärme- und Kälteversorgung

The "TransUrban.NRW" real-world laboratory is investigating the flexibility of intersectoral power-to-heat solutions and uses four demonstrators to show how traditional district heating areas in North Rhine-Westphalia's coal-mining regions can be transformed into low-CO2 systems. The project consortium, consisting of energy suppliers, scientists, and neighborhood developers, is testing the design and operation of fifth-generation sector-coupled energy systems. Fifth-generation energy systems integrate renewable energies and waste heat, promote energy systems integration, and enable feed-in by prosumers. New business models are being developed for the operation of these low-temperature networks.

Initial Situation

Typical district heating networks are powered by fossil fuels and operate at high system temperatures. The necessary phase-out of fossil fuels and the associated decarbonization of heating networks requires this infrastructure to be adapted, as the loss of generation capacity will lead to bottlenecks and high-temperature networks will not be able to efficiently integrate renewable energies and waste heat sources. In addition, the requirements for decarbonization, cooling supply, and the integration of prosumer models are increasing. TransUrban.NRW addresses these challenges by showing how high-temperature systems can be transformed into flexible low-temperature energy systems.

Objective

The central project objectives include identifying and testing solutions for the decarbonization of cities. The aim is to replace fossil fuel-based heat generation with renewable energies and local waste heat. To this end, business models for the operation of fifth-generation sector-coupled energy systems are being developed to support energy suppliers in their new role as energy platform operators. Fraunhofer ISE is investigating the possible provision of external flexibility to the upstream electrical energy grid. The flexibility potential lies in the adapted operation of heat and cooling generators and the use of energy storage systems and can be exploited to save costs. Various business models are being investigated in this regard.

Approach

The project involves developing and testing tools and guidelines for planning, operating, and monitoring fifth-generation energy systems in various work packages. These include simulation and optimization tools as well as monitoring platforms. Business models are being developed and regulatory frameworks analyzed. Relevant stakeholders are involved in the project through various participation mechanisms. This promotes the dissemination of the technology and the methods developed. The business models for the provision of flexibilities investigated at Fraunhofer ISE include the use of dynamic electricity tariffs, grid-oriented control (EnWG §14a), and the provision of balancing energy.

Interim Results

First results show that under current conditions, business models for the use of flexibility are often hardly worthwhile for end users in residential areas. They compete with the use of self-generated electricity. However, with increasing price dynamics in time-variable electricity tariffs, the development of flexibility is becoming more attractive. Battery storage and heat storage play a central role in the development of this flexibility. With attractive remuneration for the provision of flexibility, the load profiles of neighborhoods change significantly, and grid-friendly electricity procurement with gaps at typical peak load times is achieved.

• E.ON Energy Solutions GmbH
• RWTH Aachen University
• Catella Project Management GmbH
• RAG Montan Immobilien GmbH
• Shamrock Energie GmbH
• QSEE GmbH (Quartiersgesellschaft Seestadt mg+)
• QKOH GmbH (Quartiersgesellschaft Kokerei Hassel)
• QDTE GmbH (Quartiersgesellschaft Düsselterrassen)
• heatbeat Engineering GmbH (startup)
• aedifion GmbH