Trends and Developments in District Heating and Cooling Technologies
A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "J: Thermal Management".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 22 May 2025 | Viewed by 103
Special Issue Editors
Interests: district heating systems; thermal energy storage; energy system optimization; multi energy systems; renewable energy; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: district heating systems; thermal energy storage; smart energy systems; energy system optimization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
District Heating and Cooling (DHC) systems have emerged as leading technologies in the realization of sustainable and energy-efficient urban infrastructure. With the integration of renewable energy sources, including biomass, geothermal, solar thermal and industrial waste heat, DHC systems are now able to deliver cleaner, more adaptable solutions and exert a substantial impact on the decarbonization of the heating sector, a major source of global CO2 emissions. This Special Issue, entitled “Trends and Developments in District Heating and Cooling Technologies”, aims to compile the cutting-edge research, technological advances and innovative applications that are shaping the future of DHC systems worldwide.
DHC systems are currently undergoing a transition phase, moving away from conventional technologies toward low-temperature, sustainable infrastructure that can seamlessly integrate renewable sources, storage, and flexibility. These modernized systems increasingly cooperate with other energy grids, advancing the concept of smart energy systems and promoting resilience and efficiency across the broader energy landscape. The introduction of these innovations brings both opportunities, accelerating the decarbonization of the entire energy system, and a range of technical, economic, and regulatory challenges.
This Special Issue seeks original research, review articles and case studies that provide insights into the latest trends in DHC technologies. The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:
- Integration of renewable and alternative energy sources into DHC systems;
- Advances in heat and cold storage solutions for improved system efficiency;
- The role of prosumers in DHC systems;
- Smart control and optimization techniques for improved system efficiency;
- Decarbonization strategies and emissions reduction in DHC networks;
- Case studies on retrofitting existing DHC systems to modern standards;
- Analysis of the economic, environmental and social impacts of DHC systems in urban planning.
We encourage researchers working in the field of district heating and cooling to contribute to this Special Issue, which will serve as a platform for the dissemination of knowledge that supports the ongoing evolution of sustainable and resilient DHC networks.
Dr. Elisa Guelpa
Dr. Martina Capone
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- district heating
- district cooling
- district energy
- smart energy systems
- smart thermal grid
- fourth-generation district heating
- waste heat
- prosumers
- heat pumps
- thermal storage
- demand-side management
- system optimization
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