CM: District Heating Potential Areas: User-Defined Thresholds
Introduction
This calculation module identifies potential district heating (DH) zones within a selected region using two key thresholds:
- Minimum heat demand per hectare, and
- Minimum total heat demand within a DH area.
Areas that meet both criteria are classified as potential DH zones, and the corresponding heat demand is reported as DH potential through various indicators.
Heat demand plays a critical role in assessing the viability of DH systems. While low heat demand areas may not justify the infrastructure investment, areas with seemingly high average demand may only reflect a few large consumers. Conversely, areas with low average demand might contain pockets with viable potential. This module aims to strike a balance by evaluating both overall density and local distribution within the region.
The analysis is based on heat demand densities provided in a GIS input layer. Users may either upload their own datasets or use the default heat density map provided by the Hotmaps database. The default map is in raster format with a 1-hectare resolution and uses the ETRS89 / LAEA Europe – EPSG 3035 coordinate reference system. Each cell represents heat demand in MWh per hectare.
As outputs, the module provides:
- One GIS layer illustrating potential DH areas,
- Three numerical indicators, and
- Two diagrams summarising key results.
These outputs are accessible in the RESULTS section of the toolbox. By clicking on a selected area in the map interface, users can view detailed DH potential values. Additional indicators and visual charts are available in the INDICATORS / GRAPHICS window. For further information on how to interpret the results, see the section on the Sample Run.
Input
This calculation module requires a combination of user-defined threshold parameters and a geospatial input layer to identify potential district heating (DH) areas.
Input Parameters
| Parameter | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum heat demand in each hectare | MWh/ha/year | Threshold for heat demand per cell to be considered for DH area |
| Minimum heat demand in a DH area | GWh/year | Minimum total demand for a group of cells (coherent area) to qualify as a DH area |
Input Layer
- Heat density map
The tool accepts either:
- The default map provided in the toolbox, or
- User-uploaded maps with the following specifications:
- Raster format (.tif)
- 1-hectare resolution
- Coordinate Reference System (CRS): EPSG:3035
- Units: MWh/ha (annual heat demand density)
Output
Upon running the module, users receive both visual and numerical results detailing DH suitability within the selected region.
Output Indicators
- DH potential in each identified DH area [GWh/year]
- Total heat demand in the selected zone [GWh]
- Total DH potential in the selected zone [GWh]
- Potential DH share of the total heat demand in the selected zone [%]
Output Layers
- District heating (DH) areas
Provided in both raster and shapefile formats.
Method
The potential for district heating (DH) in a given area depends on both the total heat demand and how that demand is distributed spatially. In the Hotmaps toolbox, heat demand is visualised as a raster map. To accurately identify suitable DH areas, it's important that both the heat demand per individual cell and the total demand across an area exceed certain thresholds. The toolbox provides default values for these thresholds, but users can adjust them based on local heat distribution patterns and specific regional conditions.
The identification of DH areas is carried out in two main steps:
- Cell Filtering: Cells with heat demand below the user-defined threshold for "Minimum heat demand per hectare" are excluded. The remaining cells are then grouped into clusters of adjacent cells, referred to as coherent areas.
- Area Selection: The total heat demand is calculated for each coherent area. If an area’s total demand exceeds the threshold for "Minimum heat demand in a DH area", it is flagged as a potential DH area.
The final output is a GIS layer highlighting these potential DH zones, which can be viewed directly in the Hotmaps toolbox.
The GitHub repository of this Calculation Module can be accessed here.
Sample Run
To run the calculation module, follow the next steps:
Step 1: Use the "Go To Place" bar to navigate to Aalborg and select the city.
Step 2: Proceed to the Calculation Module.
- Click on the "CALCULATION MODULES" tab.
- Click on the "CM-DISTRICT HEATING POTENTIAL AREAS: USER-DEFINED THRESHOLDS" button.
The default input values show the general conditions under which an area can be considered as a potential DH area. These values should be regarded as starting point only. You may need to set values below or above the default values in the toolbox considering additional local conditions. Therefore, the user should adapt these values to find the best combination of thresholds for his or her case study.
Step 3: Name the run session
Assign a name to the run session. Optional: here, we chose "Test Run" (see Figure - Name the Session).
Figure - Name the Session
Step 4: Set the input parameters
Here, default values were used (see Figure - Run the CM).
Figure - Run the CM
Step 5: Run the CM
- Press the button "RUN CM" on the bottom left.
- Wait until the process is finished.
Step 6: Retrieve the Results
Two diagrams are generated. The first shows the DH potential in each DH area. The corresponding labels can be found on the map, too. The second diagram illustrates the total DH potential in comparison with the total heat demand in the selected area (see Figure - Show the Results).
Figure - Show the Results - Indicators
Figure - Show the Results - Charts
References
Contents of this Wiki page has been partially extracted from Hotmaps Wiki.
How To Cite
Mostafa Fallahnejad, in SAPHEA-Wiki, CM-District-heating-potential-areas: user-defined-thresholds (April 2025).
Authors And Reviewers
This page was written by Mostafa Fallahnejad (e-think). This page is reviewed by Ardak Akhatova e-think.
License
Copyright © 2025: Mostafa Fallahnejad
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 International License.
SPDX-License-Identifier: CC-BY-4.0
License-Text: https://spdx.org/licenses/CC-BY-4.0.html
Acknowledgement
We would like to convey our deepest appreciation to the HORIZON Europe Actions SAPHEA Project (Grant Agreement number 101075510), which co-funded the present investigation.