Collaborative development of resource efficient district heating in Sweden

Sammanfattning: An increased recovery of excess heat from industrial processes and thermal power generation could significantly reduce energy demands. Industrial excess heat-based district heating systems are generally considered resource efficient because they reduce the use of fossil fuels and the emissions of greenhouse gases. In addition, collaborating actors can gain financial benefits.In Sweden, although collaboration around heat supply has increased recently, the amount of excess heat that is utilized is low compared to the amount created by industrial processes. Using excess-heat recovery in district heating grids is currently one of the most cost-effective ways of providing additional heat to district heating systems.Expansion and new construction of district heating systems in new residential areas can be seen as an opportunity to further use industrial excess heat. Sweden’s local authorities can influence the development of energy systems used for new residential developments. Increased knowledge about how collaborations evolve could be used to develop strategies that could encourage the development of excess heat-based systems for district heating.This licentiate thesis examines the role of organisational collaboration when it comes to the emergence of resource efficient district heating. The thesis summarises results from three articles and investigates the preconditions for, drivers behind, and barriers to the development of excess heat-based systems for district heating in Sweden. These investigations focus on both the district heating companies’ and industries’ points of view. The thesis also discusses how Swedish spatial planning practice could improve the conditions for resource efficient district heating.Important preconditions for excess-heat collaborations to develop, from the actors’ points of view, are mainly financial. However, relationships based on trust, honesty, shared goals, information transfer, and joint problem solving are also necessary for such collaborations to evolve and develop into long-term successful excess-heat collaborations. These features are also important when it comes to the decision-making process, because knowledge gained through the participation of stakeholders is required to understand common goals and objectives and to put these into practice.As for the development of new excess heat-based district heating systems, results show that the district heating companies generally participate late in the spatial planning process. An earlier dialogue between local authority planners and district heating companies could facilitate the emergence and development of new excess heat-based district heating systems. Furthermore, to facilitate the use of excess heat-based systems, planning should also take into account any nearby industry that produces excess heat. In addition, investment subsidies could encourage the development of excess heat-based systems for district heating and provide long-term environmental benefits for collaborating actors as well as for society at large.