Prospects for using heat pumps in district heating systems around the world and Ukraine

Abstract

Trends in the use of heat pumps in district heating systems (DHS) of European countries and their prospects in Ukraine are considered. It is established that special programs have been created to stimulate heat pumps introduction in many countries around the world in order to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels for heat supply purposes. The production of heat pumps in EU countries is regulated by the relevant Directives and Commission Regulations (EU). Ukraine is actively working to harmonize these documents, improving and adapting Ukrainian legislation to European one. There is no unified approach to regulate the introduction and use of heat pumps in the world. Each country has its own regulations with appropriate permits and restrictions. The construction of heat pump systems requires certain permits from the relevant agencies, both at the state and regional (local) levels. During the operation of powerful heat pumps, their productivity and consumption of energy of low-potential heat source are monitored. The use of electricity in all sectors of the world economy will develop at a rapid pace. In 2050, electrification will take a leading position in the production of DHS thermal energy in Ukraine that will lead to mass use of heat pumps. The total heat capacity of the installed heat pumps will increase over the next thirty years and will reach 6.3 GW in 2050 that will provide an annual production of 14.8 million Gcal of thermal energy. The role of heat pumps in DHS will be as follows: generation of thermal energy during the heating period, centralized hot water supply and cold supply in summer, daily regulation of electric load of power systems. Keywords: district heating systems, thermal energy, heat pump, electric boiler, generation structure, electric load