As the heat networks systems in Sweden are getting older, energy suppliers, operators and local authorities are doing everything to introduce, test and implement new technologies and innovations. In the suburbs of the capital of unicorns (successful start-ups), Stockholm, there are some prime example of this trend. We highlight three solutions below: Ngenic, Noda Intelligent Systems and ChromoGenics.
98% of all Swedish local authorities, or municipalities, use heat networks. Of the supply, almost 80% is publicly and 22% is privately owned. In total there are some 200 district heating companies in Sweden, together delivering over 60 TWh through 20 000 km of pipes.
In Sundbyberg, part of Stockholm, several pilots have been carried out recently. The smart thermostat company Ngenic drives a successful pilot with the local authority energy operator Norrenergi. The results are solid – heat is much more balanced, customers are completely in control, and the energy supplier can capitalize on rest heat. Norrenergi is publicly owned and heats over 100 000 people in the Greater Stockholm area. The heat networks systems date from the 1950s and 1960s and was the first in Stockholm to also deliver cooling (1995). Read more here (in Swedish).
Norrenergi is also active together with the Noda Intelligent Systems in Solna, with the aim of saving energy for commercial customers at a building level. Noda’s solution can make use of buildings as thermal storage and optimize the grid through intelligent use of data already available to facility managers. It can reduce or even delete peak loads entirely while maintaining comfortable temperatures inside tenants’ apartments. Read more here (in Swedish).
Another company contributing to the sustainability of Sundbyberg is ChromoGenics, who will here provide dynamic glass solutions for a train station and surrounding developments. Chromogenics allows indirect saving of energy by reducing heat inlet through windows while also optimizing comfort. Read more here.
From a Swedish perspective, we see the success of district heating relies on several factors besides dynamic incentives as discussed above:
Sweden is at the forefront of decentralised heat networks technology. Our aim for “Heat Networks – Sustainability by Sweden” is to facilitate knowledge sharing between British and Swedish stakeholders and develop and encourage environmental and economic best practice.
To find out how we can help you and your organisation, please contact our London-based “Heat Networks” team. We can introduce you to leading consultants, suppliers of technology and services who will be pleased to share know-how of the development of heat network solutions.
