How FlOw4Heat opens up new opportunities for energy providers and industry

Key Takeaways

• Greater flexibility: New opportunities for energy suppliers and district heating network operators.
• Better decision-making: Simulations optimise planning and operational performance.
• Making the most of valuable resources: Efficient integration of industrial waste heat into district heating networks.
• A strong practical focus: Development and validation based on real-world data.

In the FFG-funded research project FlOw4Heat (Flexible Operation Networks for District Heating), the FHV Energy Research Centre is developing new simulation and optimization tools to operate district heating networks in a more flexible, efficient, and system-supportive manner.

The heat transition amid rising complexity 

Decarbonizing the heat supply is one of the most challenging tasks of the energy transition. District heating networks are facing fundamental changes: The increased use of renewable generation technologies such as large-scale heat pumps, the integration of industrial waste heat, decreasing flow temperatures, and the coupling with the power grid via power-to-heat applications to utilize renewable surpluses are fundamentally changing planning and operations. The networks are becoming more dynamic, more interconnected, and thus significantly more complex. Traditional planning and operational approaches are increasingly reaching their limits—especially when supply security, efficiency, and climate targets must be achieved simultaneously.  

Simulation and optimization for modern district heating networks 

This is precisely where the FlOw4Heat project comes in. At the FHV’s Energy Research Centre, the team is developing its own simulation models that enable a holistic analysis of district heating systems. By linking district heating network simulation, load forecasts, and optimization algorithms, different future scenarios can be systematically examined and evaluated.

“A key benefit lies in coupling the district heating network simulation with an existing power grid simulation to realistically model integrated electricity and heating systems,” explains Elias Eder, project manager at the FHV’s Energy Research Centre. “We validate our models using real-world data from district heating network operators. This is a crucial step for us in closely integrating research and practice.”

Clear benefits for district heating network operators and energy suppliers 

For district heating network operators and energy suppliers, the methods developed in the project provide new decision-making tools. They support both strategic planning decisions - such as the technical integration of industrial waste heat - and operational decisions during day-to-day network operations. Existing thermal flexibility - such as central heat storage or consumer-side buffering options - can be specifically leveraged to smooth out peak loads and tap into efficiency potential. In this way, district heating networks strengthen their role as an active flexibility tool within the integrated energy system. 

New prospects for industry and municipalities 

Industrial companies with waste heat potential also benefit from the project’s output. The models developed make it possible to examine the technical feasibility of various feed-in scenarios - an important first step toward systematically integrating previously unused waste heat into district heating networks instead of releasing it unused into the environment. 

For municipalities and the public sector, so-called model regions are particularly valuable: they increase public acceptance and provide reliable data for municipal energy plans. In conjunction with the simulation tools developed as part of the Hub4FlECs project - which is also being carried out by the FHV’s Energy Research Centre - it is possible to analyze effects not only at the district heating network level but also within the broader energy system, taking into account battery storage, PV systems, and e-mobility. 

In this way, the project not only opens up new technical possibilities but also provides a solid basis for decision-making regarding investments and municipal energy planning.

Bridge between modeling and industrial reality 

A key success factor of the FlOw4Heat project is the close integration of scientific modeling and industrial application. FHV researchers collaborate directly with companies and incorporate real operational and system data into the development of integrated energy system models. In energy system research in particular, this close connection to real-world practice is crucial for making realistic assumptions and achieving reliable results.

“For valid energy system modeling, real-world data is just as indispensable as a deep theoretical and practical understanding of the systems themselves,” emphasizes Eder. “The greatest added value arises at the interface between research and application, because that is where scientific methods meet concrete industrial challenges.”

The tools and methods developed in the project will also be published as open source. This approach enhances scientific transparency and makes it possible to make the results available beyond individual projects—both to the research community and to companies working on the further development of Sustainable Energy Systems.

Contact

Dr.-Ing. Elias Eder, BSc, MSc
Senior Scientist
Research Centre Energy

+43 5572 792 3810
elias.eder@fhv.at