District heating with complexity: Anticipating unintended consequences in the transition towards a climate-neutral city in the Netherlands

District heating systems are considered a feasible heating alternative to replace natural gas to mitigate emissions in cities. However, urban transitions are very complex because energy systems often operate in densely populated areas, which gives rise to all kinds of interdependencies in cities. These interdependencies can result in...

Synergetic urbanism: A theoretical exploration of a vertical farm as local heat source and flexible electricity user

The urban energy transition requires innovative heating and cooling systems, as well as enhanced flexibility in electricity usage. This paper explores the theoretical potential for vertical farms to contribute to the energy transition by supplying residual heat to local district heat networks and flexible electricity usage. A stepped approach...

Adoption of renewable heating systems and thermal energy communities in the Netherlands: An empirical study

Renewable heating systems (RHS), such as solar thermal, geothermal, heat pumps, wood pellets, biomass, are essential to reduce dependence on fossil fuel-based heating systems and resulting CO₂ emissions. Despite their benefits in terms of CO₂ emissions, the widespread adoption of RHS has yet to be achieved. This paper...

A warm welcome or a poor pick? Exploring energy poverty and inequality in the transition to a heat network in Delft

Energy poverty is an increasingly important issue. While vulnerable households are especially at risk in the energy transition, energy poverty effects of the transition are unknown. In Delft, a district heating network based on geothermal energy is planned. The distributive justice aspects of heat networks in the heating transition remain...

Lower temperature heating integration in the residential building stock:: A review of decision-making parameters for lower-temperature-ready energy renovations

Lower temperature heating (LTH) involves using the lowest possible supply temperatures to meet residential heating demands, thus supporting the integration of sustainable heating sources and decarbonising the existing residential stock. However, choosing appropriate energy renovation options to prepare existing dwellings for LTH presents...

No Gas All Local: Developing a renewable-based and decentralised energy system for the historic centre of Amsterdam

Urban energy systems are the key elements of combating the climate crisis as the energy transition is crucial to curb greenhouse gas emissions in urban areas, one of the main drivers of climate change. As such, there is a great effort in Amsterdam to phase out natural gas use by 2040, and to become carbon neutral by 2050. It is a great challenge...

A heat pump decision tool for homeowners: An advise leading to the benefits of the homeowner and a contribution to the energy transition of the built environment

The Netherlands is in de midst of an energy transition, 7 million households and 1 million buildings that are currently poorly insulated and heated by natural gas must be transformed into well-insulated buildings and heated with a sustainable heat source. The government encourages homeowners to make their home more sustainable by providing...

The Impact of the Inclusion of Social Dimensions on Decision-Making in the Dutch Heat Transition: an Empirical Study

We find ourselves at a crossroads; without immediate and deep emissions reductions, limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius will be impossible. For the Netherlands to achieve its climate targets, Dutch municipalities have been delegated the crucial task of the heat transition. Prior research reveals that the Dutch energy transition and...

Accelerating the energy transition: Exploring opportunities for accelerated upscaling of geothermal district heating applications in Europe

Geothermal sources could provide society with clean and renewable energy nearly eternally. Geothermal district heating, in particular, could play a significant role in the energy transition. Although the application has been implemented to some extent, further upscaling is challenging due to various economic, technical and institutional...

Improving the Efficiency of District Heating and Cooling Using a Geothermal Technology: Underground Thermal Energy Storage (UTES)

For efficient operation of heating and cooling grids, underground thermal energy storage (UTES) can be a key element. This is due to its ability to seasonally store heat or cold addressing the large mismatch between supply and demand. This technology is already available and there are many operational examples, both within and outside a...

Quays Rather Than Boilers: Extracting Heat From Water and Soil Through Energy Sheet Piles

As part of the effort to make the Dutch waterways CO2-neutral, a consortium consisting of, among others, CRUX Engineering BV and Delft University of Technology, initiated a case study in which the thermal and mechanical performance of an energy sheet pile wall is studied. This technology allows for the extraction of energy from the water and...

Co-creation as a social process for unlocking sustainable heating transitions in Europe

Providing heat is a key aspect of social life and a necessity for comfort and health in cold climates. Even though heat accounts for a large proportion of worldwide carbon emissions and is the largest energy end-use, it has remained largely untouched by efforts to decarbonize. Efforts to do so meet significant economic, social-psychological,...

District Heating Systems for Sustainable Heating in Metropolitan Areas: How the planning & design of district heating systems in metropolitan areas can support stakeholders in their transition towards sustainable heating

District heating systems offer great potential for facilitating the transition towards sustainable heating for metropolitan areas. This research provides an overview of roles and factors relevant to DH systems, identifies stakeholder types, their interests and influence, shows the relationship to system requirements and the lack of stakeholder...

Assessing the future of heat supply in Amsterdam using an energy justice framework

Heat services are essential to the Dutch society. Currently, earthquakes in Groningen and CO2-emission reduction goals accelerate the heat transition. This research explores the effects of this transition using an energy justice framework, answering the following research question: “What is the impact of the transition from natural gas heat...