What can I choose in the calculator?

The calculator lets you choose the share of total heat demand covered by Decentralised Heating in Switzerland in the selected year (2035 or 2050). Increasing the Decentralised Heating fraction, will decrease the Centralised (or District) Heating fraction proportionally.

Decentralised Heating

image The oldest decentralised heating technology.

Contents

IMPACT – What are the impacts of Decentralised Heating?

In Switzerland, increasing the share of Decentralised Heating at the expense of Centralised Heating will have the following impacts:

Energy system

image Increase primary and final energy demand.

image Likely to increase electricity demand if electric forms of decentralised heating are used.

image Likely to increase total consumption of heating oil and natural gas as decentralised boilers and cogeneration are more inefficient than centralised solutions.

image Impact on the grid depends on the type of technologies chosen.

image Likely to decrease energy independence by reducing fossil imports.

Environment & Climate

image Very likely to increase global CO2 emissions.

image Likely to increase deposited waste.

image Other impact categories are technology specific.

Society & Economy

image Cost of the energy transition, impact on Balance of payments and Confederation income depend on the technologies chosen.

GLOBAL MARKET – What is the global market for Decentralised Heating?

Decentralised Heating has an average market share of 90%in Europe, but in North, Central and Eastern Europe, this can be 50% or less.[1]

DEFINITION / CONSTRAINTS

DEFINITION - What is Decentralised Heating?

With Decentralised Heating, heat is generated locally, where it is used (a household or small size industrial facility). The heat can be generated with various technologies; in the calculator, Decentralised Heating is represented by the following technologies: Heat pump, Thermal heat pump, Cogeneration, Advanced cogeneration, Boiler, Solar and Direct electric heating.

CONSTRAINTS - What are the key barriers facing Decentralised Heating?

• Barriers are technology specific.

ASSUMPTIONS – What are the assumptions considered in the calculator?

You will find more information about the different decentralised technologies here.

REFERENCES

[1] Euroheat & Power.