District Heating and Cooling Enable Efficient Energy Resource Utilisation

Abstract

Economic development in transition countries, such as China and India, increase global energy use. Therefore, the demand for energy carriers grows, which should increase energy prices. Global energy supply is dominated by fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas, and this situation is likely to remain for many years even if the use of renewable energy sources (e.g., biomass, solar energy and wind energy) is expanding. Higher energy prices make certain changes of the energy system more profitable: use of free energy sources, such as sun and wind, efficiency improvements of energy supply, as well as energy conservation measures, which reduce energy use.[...]