Task 55 Highlights 2020
February 2021 - PDF 0.17MB

In recent years, megawatt-scale solar thermal district heating (SDH) systems have gained increasing attention globally. Several ambitious projects were successfully implemented in countries such as Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Sweden and Norway. Large-scale SDH systems and their large-sized seasonal storages have become attractive options for cost effective and low carbon heat supply. In the next step, large systems will become even bigger and likely grow from MEGA to almost GIGA-sized installations. These systems will be able to meet the increasing energy demand of city districts and of whole cities. Compared to conventional heat generation systems, the effective operation of a SDH network and its seasonal storage can guarantee a primary energy consumption reduction of >70% in thermal needs. However, the actual integration of large solar thermal systems into existing and new networks faces several challenges. Expertise on the integration of large solar thermal systems into district networks is limited. Therefore, SHC Task 55 collects and disseminates technical and economic solutions to leverage large-scale solar thermal district heating and cooling systems worldwide.

Task 55 - Highlights 2019
January 2020 - PDF 0.37MB
Publisher: Task 55

Megawatt-scale solar thermal district heating (SDH) systems are gaining increased attention globally. Ambitious projects have already been implemented in numerous countries, including Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Norway. Large-scale SDH systems and their large-sized seasonal storages are attractive options because they offer a cost-effective and low carbon heat supply. Due to this fact, these large systems will become even bigger and likely grow from MEGA to almost GIGA-sized installations, they will be able to meet the increasing energy demand of city districts as well as entire cities.

Task 55 Highlights 2019
January 2020 - PDF 1MB

Task 55 - Highlights 2018
January 2019 - PDF 0.39MB

In recent years, megawatt-scale solar thermal district heating (SDH) systems have gained increasing attention globally. Several ambitious projects were successfully implemented in countries such as Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and Norway. Large-scale SDH systems and their large-sized seasonal storages have become attractive options for cost effective and low carbon heat supply. In the next step, large systems will become even bigger and likely grow from MEGA to almost GIGA-sized installations. These systems will be able to meet the increasing energy demand of city districts and of whole cities. Compared to conventional heat generation systems, the effective operation of a SDH network and its seasonal storage can guarantee a primary energy consumption reduction of >70% in thermal needs. However, the actual integration of large solar thermal systems into existing and new networks faces several challenges. Expertise on the integration of large solar thermal systems into district networks is limited. Therefore, SHC Task 55 collects and disseminates technical and economic solutions to leverage large-scale solar thermal district heating and cooling systems worldwide.

Task 55 Highlights 2017
February 2018 - PDF 0.93MB
In recent years, megawatt-scale solar thermal district heating (SDH) systems have gained increasing attention globally. Several ambitious projects were successfully implemented in countries such as Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and Norway. Large-scale SDH systems and their large-sized seasonal storages have become attractive options for cost effective and low carbon heat supply. In the next step, large systems will become even bigger and likely grow from MEGA to almost GIGA-sized installations. These systems will be able to meet the increasing energy demand of city districts and of whole cities. Compared to conventional heat generation systems, the effective operation of a SDH network and its seasonal storage can guarantee a primary energy consumption reduction of >70% in thermal needs. However, the actual integration of large solar thermal systems into existing and new networks faces several challenges. Expertise on the integration of large solar thermal systems into district networks is limited. Therefore, SHC Task 55 collects and disseminates technical and economic solutions to leverage large-scale solar thermal district heating and cooling systems worldwide.

Task 55 Highlights 2016
April 2017 - PDF 0.86MB
SHC Task 55 aims to provide a platform for practitioners and scientists to elaborate on the benefits and challenges of SDH and SDC systems. It elaborates on options and measures to realize sophisticated SDH and SDC systems by focusing on characteristics of solar thermal systems, technical and economic specifications of district heating networks that are relevant for the integration of solar thermal systems and hybrid technologies, analyses of system components and their integration, modular designs of large SDH/SDC systems, and economic requirements of large SDH/SDC systems in different market regions. Finally, SHC Task 55 is a collaborative project with the IEA Technology Collaboration Programme on District Heating and Cooling including Combined Heat and Power (IEA DHC).