Modeling District Heating and Electric Distribution Network Interactions: a Soft-linking Approach

Abstract

Historically, district heating networks (DHNs) and electricity distribution networks (EDNs) have been planned independently, as heat demand was mostly met by natural gas. However, the proliferation of power-to-heat (P2H) technologies intensifies the interactions between these two networks, making their operations more intertwined. This study proposes a soft-linking approach to enable a high-fidelity assessment of the interactions between these networks and to quantify the impacts of their interdependency. The proposed approach couples an operational optimization model of a DHN and a full AC time series power flow simulation model of an EDN. Historical and future scenarios are analyzed under market, weather, and demand-driven scenarios. Results show that nearly half of the DHN’s heat demand is met by P2H and geothermal units by 2030, consequently causing 660 instances of network limit violations in the EDN. Interestingly, a strategic placement of P2H units alleviates EDN congestion from peak supply by absorbing surplus generation from local distributed energy resources like PVs. These findings highlight the need for coordinated planning and operation between DHNs and EDNs to achieve a cost-efficient and reliable energy transition.