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Technologies and applications for low/high temperature heat recovery in district heating (heat from district heating return pipelines, data centers, etc.)

Heat recovery in district heating networks is relevant for climate-neutral targets due to the replacement of fossil fuels in proportion to the use of waste heat alongside renewable energy sources. The exchange of heat and coolth among different buildings and sources represents an interactive way of satisfying thermal energy needs for space heating. Such exchanges can include those based on the rejected waste heat from the refrigeration of supermarkets that can be used in local residential blocks. In addition, heat recovery from local data centers, underground (metro) shafts, and wastewater can be integrated into new generation district heating and cooling networks. These can be ambient loop systems that operate at ambient temperatures with booster heat pumps located at each connected end-user or building [1] (also see the solution factsheet on “From third generation (3G) to fifth generation (5G) district heating and cooling networks (energy generation to substations” that provides complementary information). These forms of interaction can be used to define a transition from a heat market that used to be only consumer driven to a heat marked that is based on distributed prosumers [2]. 

 

Based on the Handbook for Increased Recovery of Urban Excess Heat [3], the potential for urban heat recovery is relatively large and is estimated with a potential of meeting about 10% of the heating and cooling demands of the EU. The largest heat volumes of waste heat come from wastewater and the lowest from metro systems [3]. Within the total heat recovery potential of about 1.41 EJ, 44% comes for wastewater, 21% from service sector buildings, 19% from data centers, 8% from residential buildings and 3% from metro systems [3]. The recovery/reuse of unexploited low-temperature heat in urban areas span data centres, transport systems, facilities, supermarkets, offices, shops, wastewater sewage networks, electrical substations, and natural sources in blue spaces, such as harbours, rivers, lakes, and seawater. Options for heat recovery from data centers, metro stations, food production facilities and retail stores, service sector buildings, such as hospitals, residential buildings, and wastewater treatment plants also involve different temperature ranges. Table 1 summarises the options that can be found in urban areas based on the temperature ranges and constant or variable temporality of supply. 

Figure 1. European Waste Heat Map that provides a geospatial representation of waste heat sources at each data point with an example being shown for a supermarket. The map involves thousands of points, each with waste heat potential [7]. 

 

Table 1. Summary of types, temperature ranges, temporality and the heat pump conversion for waste heat sources [3]  

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Waste heat source 
 
 
 
 

Recovery type 
 
 
 
 

Temperature range °C 
 
 
 
 

Temporality 

(seasonal) 
 
 
 
 

Heat pump conversion type 
 
 
 
 

Data centre 
 
 

Server room air cooling systems 
 
 

25–35 
 
 

Principally constant 
 
 

Air to water 
 
 
 
 

Metro stations 
 
 

Platform ventilation 

exhaust air 
 
 

5–35 
 
 

Variable 
 
 

Air to water 
 
 
 
 

Food production facilities 
 
 

Rejected heat from 

refrigeration processes 
 
 

20–40 
 
 

Principally constant 
 
 

Liquid to water 
 
 
 
 

Food retail stores 
 
 

Rejected heat from 

refrigeration processes 
 
 

40–70 
 
 

Principally constant 
 
 

- 
 
 
 
 

Service sector buildings 
 
 

Central cooling devices 
 
 

30–40 
 
 

Variable 
 
 

Liquid to water 
 
 
 
 

Residential sector buildings 
 
 

Central cooling devices 
 
 

30–40 
 
 

Variable 
 
 

Liquid to water 
 
 
 
 

Wastewater treatment plants 
 
 

Post-treatment sewage water 
 
 

8–15 
 
 

Principally constant 
 
 

Water to water 

 

In Europe, heat sources that are located within 2 km of a district heating network as a reasonable proximity involve [3]:  

  • 3,982 wastewater treatment plants (accessible heat recovery potential of 625 PJ per year) 

  • 997 data centers (accessible heat recovery potential of 271 PJ per year) 

  • 20,171 food retain stores with refrigeration to preserve perishable foods (60 PJ per year) 

  • 1,852 metro stations (accessible heat recovery potential of 49 PJ per year) 

  • 669 food production units (accessible heat recovery potential of 4.8 PJ per year) 

 

 

Such sources of urban heat can be used directly in low-temperature district heating networks or indirectly by using a booster heat pump that brings the heat source to the expected temperature, especially in high-temperature district heating networks [3]. For example, the GrowSmarter project [4] involved waste heat recovery based on wastewater, waste heat from data centres, vacuum waste systems, and waste heat from fridges and freezers in supermarkets. In Stockholm, the district heating concept and business model was renewed based on “open district heating” for feed-in of waste heat. A heat recovery ratio of 73% allowed recovering ~3.1 GWh of thermal energy per year. In the data center, surplus heat from the cooling units is integrated into the existing district heating network. Plug and play heat pumps are installed at the facilities of the waste heat producer that allows this ability. In total, the data center is expected to recover about 1MW heat. Quantitatively, this can be equivalent to heating more than 1,000 apartments [5]. The recovered heat is suitable for being consumed in the supply line after a temperature lift based on efficient heat pumps using renewable electricity [5].  

Figure 2. Depiction of integrating waste heat from data centers and an underground (metro) ventilation shaft into district heating and cooling networks with distributed booster heat pumps in different buildings as well as thermal storage [1]. 

 

Heat recovery in the ReUseHeat project also provided a win-win situation where a data center reduces its cooling costs and the district heating company obtains heat that increases its heat capacity. The data center provides warm water at about 25°C that is piped to an energy station where the temperature is further increased through a heat pump [3]. In Berlin, the waste heat recovery from the ventilation units of a metro system is fed-in to a low temperature network at 50°C [3].  
 
In certain contexts, low-temperature district heating networks can be established as branch connections to existing high-temperature district heating networks. In such cases, the energy cascade that the low-temperature district heating network provides decreases the return temperature of the high-temperature district heating network, thereby increasing system efficiency. In one case, heat from the return pipe could satisfy about 25% of the heat demands of end-users [6].

Figure 3. Integration of heat recovery from the cooling load of supermarkets into new generation district heating and cooling networks with ultra-low temperature warm pipes and high temperature cold pipes and prosumer buildings [8].  

 

MATURITY: 

 

Urban waste heat recovery systems involve system innovation and do not have high maturity at a system level [3]. Awareness, capacity and know-how across stakeholders who could otherwise be involved in urban waste heat systems are lacking. This affects the process of identifying waste heat sources, system design, implementation, and customers who will be utilizing the waste heat. The collaboration of a wide-range of stakeholders are necessary, including district heating network operators, the owners of urban waste heat, urban planners, architects and installers. Due to the lack of awareness and collaboration based on suitable business models, there is mostly low demand for heat recovery solutions. For this reason, It is recognized that technological maturity is not the main barrier of utilizing urban waste heat - it is awareness on a largely unknown potential and the relatively lower maturity of a collaborative concept for sharing thermal energy [3]. 

CO-BENEFITS
KEYWORDS
PRE-CONDITIONS & ENABLING CONDITIONS
CONSTRAINTS/BARRIERS FOR IMPLEMENTATION
DRAWBACKS/ADVERSE IMPACTS OF THE SOLUTIONS after implementation
EXTERNAL LINKS
IMPACTS (Indicators + DNSH)
INSTRUMENTS/Processes for implementation
EXAMPLES

In this collection

Passive building design strategies: building orientation, passive heating and cooling

Passive building design means providing passive heating, passive cooling, and natural ventilation to maintain comfortable indoor conditions with no need for energy, by taking advantage of location (climate), orientation, massing, shading, material selection, thermal mass, insulation, internal layout and the positioning of openings to allow the penetration of solar radiation, daylight, and ventilation in the desired amounts [1–8]. When duly applied, passive design strategies are a designer’s first opportunity to increase a building’s energy efficiency, without adding much less front-end cost to a project as compared to active design strategies. Efficient passive design results in smaller heating and cooling loads (so that the building’s mechanical system – if any – can be downsized) and smaller electric loads for lighting through the use of daylighting design strategies.  

 

Beyond local climate, building orientation is a key aspect for passive design. The most energy-efficient designs are facing south or north to allow better solar energy management and better quality of daylighting. Building shape is also very relevant in the design, as an elongated and narrow plant (with south or north facing façade) allows for more of the building to be receive daylight. Shading strategies properly combined with other passive design strategies are also required, especially in hot climates [9,10]. Since the main difficulty in designing natural ventilation systems driven by buoyancy and wind is the simultaneous estimation of ventilation airflows and indoor temperatures, solar chimneys are used [11,12]. A solar chimney is a vertical shaft utilizing solar energy to enhance natural ventilation. 

 

Passive heating can be achieved by capturing the heat from the sun inside the building. Tweaking the window-to-wall ratio and the building exposure to the sun, all the while controlling for the thermal mass, heat flows and insulation allows to effectively store, distribute and retain the heat. The thermal mass defines the capacity to absorb, store and release heat. Heavyweight construction materials like concrete, brick and stone exhibit large thermal mass that can be used to effectively store the heat over peak hours and release it overnight. 

Passive building design. Figure from

 

Passive cooling is a set of design strategies to reduce heat gains and favour heat dispersion. Many methods exist and include using solar shadings as well as designing openings in such a way to allow good ventilation (such as solar chimneys). Shading can either be operable (external louvres, blinds, and deciduous trees) or fixed (e.g. eaves, overhangs, fences and evergreen trees). 

 

 '

Shading devices for north-facing openings. 

Figure from https://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design 

 

Passive design strategies are rated in different standards, such as PassivHaus (Passive House), BREEAM, LEED or WELL. 

 

The literature shows that today there are many net-zero, nearly-zero energy, and certified Passive House buildings worldwide, in different climate or geographic regions. Most are in Europe and North America, followed by New Zealand, Kore, Japan, China, and India [1]. Literature also shows that is it possible to achieve at least the Passive House energy standard of performance in all climate zones [13]. 

 

MATURITY:  

 

Although individual passive techniques are already commercial, their holistic implementation in buildings is still at TRL=4-6. 

Flat plate solar collectors

Solar thermal panels are devices that convert solar radiation into heat and transfer it to a heat transfer fluid (typically water or an anti-freeze fluid) to be stored or to reach the point of use.

Source: Jafari S, Sohani A, Hoseinzadeh S, Pourfayaz F. The 3E Optimal Location Assessment of Flat-Plate Solar Collectors for Domestic Applications in Iran. Energies. 2022; 15(10):3589. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15103589 

 

FPC is the main solar collector technology installed in Europe with more that 2 million m2 installed per year [1]. FPCs are suitable for low-medium temperature applications including domestic hot water, heating, preheating and combined systems. In buildings FPC can be used both as a direct system or an indirect system. In the first case, cold water in a storage tank is pumped and heated directly through the collector. However, in passive system (thermosiphon) can be employed avoiding the use of the pump and using the force of gravity and the buoyancy effect of water at different temperatures. In these systems a horizontal tank are employed and placed above the collector. In an indirect system a heat transfer fluid in a closed loop is heated by the collector and used to transfer thermal energy to the water through a heat exchange. FPC can be also used in cities to provide renewable heating at district level being an effective solution when they operate at low temperatures [2] .  FPC consists of tubes carrying a heat transfer fluid placed in an insulated, weather-proof box with a dark absorber material and thermal insulation material. FPC can be installed as a thermosiphon system, in which the circulation of the heat transfer fluid is induced by the density difference caused by the increase of temperature, or as an active system with a pump [3]. The simplicity of construction makes FPCs a relatively low-cost solution, which can be installed as single modules on roofs, or manufactured in a larger format for roof or facade integration or for ground-mounted systems. For the production of FPC, different materials can be used including copper, aluminium, stainless steel combined with a glazing to achieve a high efficiency. 

Source: https://www.onosisolar.com/solar-collectors/flat-plate-solar-thermal-collector/  

 

MATURITY:  

FPC is a mature technology available on the market (TRL 9) suitable for domestic applications such as the production of domestic hot water which represents more than 90% of the global market [3]. FPC can also be used for space heating or space cooling when coupled with liquid desiccant based air conditioning systems [4]. FPC can also be employed in pool heating, drying applications [5], or large scale heating systems including district heating [6] with more than 340 systems installed around the world [2]. 

JRC Collection

In the face of pressing environmental challenges, cities around the world are seeking innovative solutions to create a sustainable and livable future. From energy efficiency to waste management, transportation to urban planning, a multitude of strategies are being implemented to reduce our carbon footprint and promote a greener urban environment. The Joint Research Centre has produced a collection of documents to help cities identify how to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

At the buildings, also known as the Stationary Energy sector,  is necessary to reduce energy demand as much as possible. Currently, 75% of European houses are energy inefficient, which means that much of the energy needed is simply lost. There are several passive and active solutions to improve energy efficiency in buildings or deep energy renovation. Enhancing the thermal performance of building envelopes by improving the thermal properties of construction systems is possible by acting upon not just the insulation level, but also the thermal inertia through proper selection of the construction materials (Check more in Envelope thermal capacity). Green roofs can also be added, together with photovoltaics,  introducing vegetation on/in man-made buildings and constructions to provide environmental, economic, and social benefits (i.e., clean air and water, climate regulation, food provision, erosion control, and places for recreation). To decrease the heat gains of buildings, reflective or cool materials can be applied on the roof or the facades of buildings (1-3). Reflective materials are characterized by high solar reflectance (SR) combined with a high thermal emittance value. Passive building design strategies, such as building orientation, passive heating and cooling can maintain comfortable indoor conditions with no need for energy, by taking advantage of location (climate), orientation, massing, shading, material selection, thermal mass, insulation, internal layout and the positioning of openings to allow the penetration of solar radiation, daylight, and ventilation in the desired amounts. Thanks to reducing energy needs,  Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) can be achieved. 

When everything possible has been done to reduce energy needs, renewable energy sources can be used such as  Evacuated tubes solar collectors, Flat plate solar collectors,  BIST (Building Integrated Solar Thermal), and many other thermal nearby renewable energy generation. Heat pumps are able to transfer heat from a lower-temperature heat source into a higher-temperature heat sink with low electricity consumption, such as air-source heat pump, ground-source heat pump and water-source heat pump. Thermal technologies can be integrated with different type of storage: sensible, latent, thermochemical, and PCM can also help with waste heat recovery. Seasonal storage can also be used. 

The decarbonisation of district heating networks is a major problem in cities. Renovating them (To make them more efficient), switching to sustainable fuels or renewable energy sources, or promoting the construction of new 3G to 5G District Heating and Cooling networks (energy generation to substations) in new areas, can help to descarbonise it. Technologies and applications for low/high temperature heat recovery in district heating are key for decarbonising existing networks, as DHN can use waste heat alongside renewable energy sources to heat up cities. 

The use of renewable energy sources to produce electricity is one of the key actions of the energy transition for reducing carbon emissions to the atmosphere. On-site generation of electricity from renewables can help local municipalities, cities, and communities to have substantial environmental, economic, and social benefits, such as BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics).  Ocean contains a vast renewable energy potential, which could support sustainable long-term development and can be a crucial component in the world’s emerging blue economy. Ocean energy technologies are utilizing different resources such as tidal or waves. The production of electricity sometimes surpasses the demand, which can cause curtailment of RES. Thus, storage is needed such as Mechanical energy storage. 

Integrating reduction of energy needs, renewable energy sources, storage, smart solutions,.- and sustainable mobility,  Near Zero/ Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) or Positive Energy Buildings (PEBs) are achieved. To perform data analysis and optimize the performance of districts and cities, digital twins are used. Citizen participation platforms enables citizens to use digital technologies or platforms, e.g., combination of geographic information systems (GIS), Web 2.0 and mobile technologies (including video, mobile messaging and Internet access), for communication, engagement and deliberation on policy or planning challenges.  

Transport and mobility is a key sector in city's Action Plans. For instance, buses are responsible for about 8% of the road transport Green House Gas emissions in EU. Buses with internal combustion engines are responsible also for emissions of fossil carbon dioxide (CO2) as well as air pollutants particulate matter (PM) or nitrogen oxides (NOx). Thus, zero emission buses, have a significant potential in the reduction of transport-related emissions in urban areas. Furthermore, to reduce road transport emissions, It has been increasingly recognized that electric cars provide an opportunity to reduce them and greatly increase air quality.   In urban transport, there are some vehicle categories that benefit the most with the use of hydrogen vehicles, it being mostly related to the need for long autonomy, or the need for fast refueling, as compared to the longer recharging times for battery-powered vehicles.

At Waterborne transport  emissions are on the rise, and they represent today almost 3% of global GHG emissions. Ships entering EU ports emit 13% of the total EU transport GHG emissions, while inland waterway transport in the EU is estimated to emit 3.8 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. Apart from GHG emissions, shipping is responsible for water degradation, air pollution and noise pollution. All these impacts have a negative impact on cities and their inhabitants.  Urban rail transit (e.g. light rail, rapid transit, commuter rail, metro rail) is an important component of urban mobility and transport. With relatively low lifecycle emissions, electrified rail transport is considered to be key for the reduction of emissions in transport in general, and also in urban areas. Lastly, drones, automated aircrafts or urban air mobility (UAM) concept, to transport goods and people in urban and suburban areas can achieve sustainable flights with no emissions during operation.

For making public transport more efficient, user-centered, inclusive and shared mobility concepts, for people and goods, that are based on automation and connectivity, such as Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM)  are needed.  These innovative mobility concepts aim to complement and integrate the EU transport system with the aim to make it safer, smarter and more sustainable. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) apply information and communication technologies such as journey planners, eCall (a system that automatically alerts emergency services in case of an accident), short-range communications for improving passenger safety and reducing road fatalities, and connected and automated mobility concepts for passenger and goods.  

Currently, the construction sector is mostly following linear economy principles – consuming non-renewable virgin materials, producing landfill waste, and producing an overall negative environmental impact. Promoting local waste material banks or online registration of building and products can reduce emissions. Furthermore, the direct CO2 emissions related to concrete largely come from cement production, which can be reduced with several solutions for achieving low-carbon sustainable concrete. A residual value calculator can be used to provide insights into the residual financial value of building products, such as the interior and exterior facades of homes and offices. Also, at the building level, greywater can be reused and clean with greywater-nature-based solutions to reduce the amount of water demanded from the tap and the stress of water treatment plants. A digital building logbook is a common repository for all relevant building data that allows a variety of data, information and documents to be recorded, accessed, enriched and organised under specific categories​ [2]​. The purpose of this novel concept is to ensure all relevant data is stored and made available to various stakeholders to support their decision-making process. Local or wider co-operation in industrial symbiosis can reduce the need for virgin raw material and waste generation

To maximize the recovery and valorization potential of existing materials in buildings and minimize waste in construction, optimal waste management at the end of life of buildings is essential.  Several solutions exist to recycle food and nutrients, such as using waste products and leftovers from food production to create new products.  Other circular economy strategies include, circular design of textiles which involves designing textiles in ways that make them last longer, create less waste during their entire life-cycle, are made from non-toxic material, and can be recycled.  Product labels for circularity can encourage consumers to make more environmentally friendly purchasing choices, thus nudging manufacturers towards a more sustainable production;  help extend product lifespan by promoting repair over disposal; and ensure correct sorting and recycling of end-of-life products. The Circular Life Cycle Cost (C-LCC) models can be use to evaluate the different options for components of ‘circular’ buildings, for instance, 1) the structure is made from reclaimed materials, 2) the structure is made from modules that can be changed, updated or reused, and 3) the structure is made from bio-based and biodegradable material. 

When residual emissions cannot be longer mitigated, natural carbon sinks can be used, such as Vertical green infrastructure(VGI), floating gardens or tree planting.  Green fences, green noise barriers, or vertical mobile gardens have great potential to support climate transition of compact urban areas. VGI does not compete for land use but is able to support microclimate regulation through cooling capacities, reduce noise pollution, recycle and upcycle rainwater and grey water, produce food or habitat for species, and generate pleasant green spaces, with a significant aesthetic value.

To make cities more resilient, several actions can be taken. Firstly, the establishment of floodable parks  can help mitigate the impacts of flooding, which has become a critical natural hazard in Europe, causing substantial human and economic losses. By allowing parks to act as flood buffers, the intensity of flood events can be reduced, thereby safeguarding urban areas.

Another essential aspect is rainwater management and retention. As urbanization and industrialization have resulted in reduced vegetative cover and decreased water storage in the subsurface, surface runoff has become concentrated, leading to strain on sewage systems. By adopting strategies that mimic the natural water cycle, cities can effectively manage rainwater and promote its retention, alleviating the strain on infrastructure and reducing the risk of flooding.

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) offer a diverse range of interventions to align modern drainage systems with natural water processes. By integrating sustainable practices, such as permeable pavements, green roofs, and constructed wetlands, cities can enhance their resilience against rainfall events, mitigate the risk of surface runoff, and preserve water resources.

Detecting water leaks is another crucial aspect of ensuring water sustainability. Water scarcity is not only a consequence of climate change and rising demand but also due to unaccounted losses within water distribution networks. By implementing advanced leak detection technologies and efficient monitoring systems, cities can minimize water losses, optimize resource allocation, and enhance overall water management.

The urban heat island effect poses a significant challenge in cities, leading to increased energy demands for cooling and diminished comfort conditions. To mitigate this impact, various strategies can be employed. Greenery, such as urban forests, parks, and green roofs, can effectively counterbalance the heat island phenomenon by providing shade, reducing ambient temperatures, and improving air quality.

Shadings  play a crucial role in mitigating the urban heat island effect by improving thermal protection of buildings and dissipating the building's thermal load to lower temperature heat sinks. By implementing shading techniques such as architectural design modifications, intelligent use of vegetation, and the strategic placement of sunshades, cities can significantly reduce the heat absorption of buildings, resulting in more comfortable living environments.

Evaporative cooling also offers a promising solution for combating the urban heat island effect. By employing techniques like misting systems, evaporative cooling towers, and water features, cities can effectively reduce temperatures, enhance thermal comfort, and decrease energy consumption for cooling purposes.

Additionally, cool urban surfaces (reflective) provide an innovative approach to counteracting the heat island phenomenon. By utilizing reflective materials on pavements, roofs, and other surfaces, cities can minimize heat absorption and radiation, thus reducing ambient temperatures and mitigating the energy demand for cooling.

Integrating these strategies and adopting a holistic approach to urban planning and development can enhance the resilience of cities, promote sustainability, and contribute to global efforts in combating climate change. By embracing natural carbon sinks, implementing green infrastructure, and prioritizing sustainable water and heat management practices, cities can create more livable and environmentally friendly spaces for their residents.

 

List of solutions:

 

THEMATIC AREA / Category

 

SOLUTION

Link

STATIONARY ENERGY

STATIONARY ENERGY SOLUTIONS

 

 

Building envelope solutions

Envelope insulation

https://netzerocities.app/resource-154

 

Envelope thermal capacity

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3507

 

Green roofs

https://netzerocities.app/resource-164

 

Cool roofs/facades and reflective (incl. retroreflective) roof/facades

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3477

RES and energy-harvesting solutions

PV panels

https://netzerocities.app/resource-388

 

Solar thermal panels

https://netzerocities.app/resource-438

 

Flat plate collectors (FPC)

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3517

 

Evacuated tube collectors (ETC)

https://netzerocities.app/resource-458
  BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics) netzerocities.app/resource-3718

 

BIST (Building Integrated Solar Thermal)

https://netzerocities.app/resource-edit-3457

 

On-site and nearby renewable energy generation (electricity)

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3607

 

On-site and nearby renewable energy generation (heat/cold)

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3617

Heat recovery solutions

Heat captured during phase change (phase change materials) - Focus: waste heat recovery and free-cooling/free-heating using PCM

https://netzerocities.app/resource-edit-3537

Energy storage

Local heat/cold storage 1: sensible (hot water tanks and UTES (non-seasonal), pebble beds and Canadian storage), incl. heating and cooling applications

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3728

 

Local heat/cold storage 2: latent (PCM in HVAC) incl. heating and cooling applications

https://netzerocities.app/resource-828

 

Local heat/cold storage 3: thermochemical (absorption and adsorption) incl. heating and cooling applications

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3637

Passive building solutions

Passive building design strategies (building shape, plan, orientation, shading system)

https://netzerocities.app/resource-194

Sustainable and energy-efficient active solutions

Heat pumps: air source

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3447

 

Heat pumps: ground source

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3527

 

Heat pumps: water source

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3697
  Earth-air heat exchange technologies (EAHX) https://netzerocities.app/resource-3753

Low-carbon and sustainable building materials

Low-carbon sustainable concrete

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3567

Energy conservation

Urban heat island effect mitigation - Greening

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3667

 

Urban heat island effect mitigation - Cool urban surfaces (reflective)

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3384

 

Urban heat island effect mitigation - Evaporative cooling

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3708

 

Urban heat island effect mitigation - Shadings

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3677

Integrated solutions

Positive Energy Buildings/Houses

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3374

 

Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs)

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3364

 

Energy renovation/retrofit of existing buildings (below NZEB level)

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3497

 

Nearly Zero / Positive Energy Districts

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3354

 

 

 

 

 DIGITAL

DIGITAL SOLUTIONS

 

 

Analytics and modelling solutions

Digital Twin

https://netzerocities.app/resource-1965

 

Digital building logbook

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3487

E-governance solutions

(Citizen) Participation Platforms

https://netzerocities.app/resource-2139

 

 

 

MOBILITY AND TRANSPORT

MOBILITY AND TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS

 

Vehicle solutions

Zero emission buses (electric and fuel cell)

https://netzerocities.app/resource-398

 

Zero emission electric cars

https://netzerocities.app/resource-408

 

Zero emission vessels

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3437

 

Urban Air Mobility

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3407

 

Urban and underground rail

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3417

 

Automation

https://netzerocities.app/resource-418

Infrastructure solutions

Bi-directional EV charging

https://netzerocities.app/resource-428

 

Public charging infrastructure for EVs

https://netzerocities.app/resource-448

 

Intelligent transport systems infrastructure

https://netzerocities.app/resource-498

 

Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicles (incl. infrastructure, refuelling stations)

https://netzerocities.app/resource-508

 

 

 

SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT & CIRCULAR ECONOMY

SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT & CIRCULAR ECONOMY SOLUTIONS

Circular textiles

Textile and fashion design for circularity

https://netzerocities.app/resource-2301

Construction and Buildings

Optimal management of waste at the end of building life cycle

https://netzerocities.app/resource-2467

 

Re-using local building waste (e.g. local waste material bank)

https://netzerocities.app/resource-2477

 

Residual Value Calculator for construction parts/material, consumer products

https://netzerocities.app/resource-2498

 

Online register with building and infrastructure material/parts/products for reuse/circular use

https://netzerocities.app/resource-2508

 

Circular Life Cycle Cost (C-LCC): ECO-tool (for deep renovation)

https://netzerocities.app/resource-2518

WATER: Building level

Grey water treatment (including NBS) and reuse

https://netzerocities.app/resource-2543
  Rain water retention e.g. on roofs https://netzerocities.app/resource-3587
WATER: Urban water cycle Water leaks detection https://netzerocities.app/resource-3687

 

Rainwater management and retention

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3597

ENERGY: Energy Efficiency

Improvement of energy efficiency by active and passive solutions in buildings

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3557

 

Industrial symbiosis assessment and solution pathways for facilitating cross-sectoral energy and material exchange

https://netzerocities.app/resource-2564

ENERGY: Energy generation - RES

Guarantee the energy saving/production in buildings

https://netzerocities.app/resource-2594

FOOD

Food and nutrients recycling

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3467

CIRCULAR RETAIL SECTOR

Product labelling for circularity/durability/repairability

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3577

 

 

 

 NATURE-BASED

NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS

 

 

Urban carbon storage and sequestration

Vertical green infrastructure: Green fences, green noise barriers, vertical mobile gardens

https://netzerocities.app/resource-1188

 

Allotments, community gardens, floating garden

https://netzerocities.app/resource-1218

 

Tree planting (urban forestry/urban trees), parks and (semi) natural urban green areas

 https://netzerocities.app/resource-1258

Water interventions

Floodable park

https://netzerocities.app/resource-1328

 

Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUD) systems

https://netzerocities.app/resource-1358

 

 

 

ENERGY GENERATION

ENERGY GENERATION SOLUTIONS

 

RES electricity and thermal energy generation

Solar thermal

https://netzerocities.app/resource-438

 

Photovoltaics

https://netzerocities.app/resource-388

 

Tide, wave and other ocean energy

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3657

Energy recovery

Technologies and applications for low/high temperature heat recovery in DH

https://netzerocities.app/resource-858

Energy and E-fuel storage

Mechanical storage

https://netzerocities.app/resource-3647

 

Seasonal storage (pits, UTES, sorption)

https://netzerocities.app/resource-848

Infrastructure

From 3G to 5G district heating and cooling networks (generation to substations)

https://netzerocities.app/resource-878

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Authors

JRC

Last update: June 14, 2023

Tags

Energy
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