Utilize District Heating Smart Meter Data and Building Information to Compare the Heat Load with the Design Guidelines

Abstract: Recent instability in gas markets has strengthened demand for district heating (DH) solutions. However, design heat loads in DH systems continue to rely on outdated design guidelines that no longer represent the current heat demand. Using high-temporal-resolution data down to 2 seconds from smart heat meters and building information, this study identifies development trends in Danish residential buildings and assesses current design heat loads. The results indicate short-duration peak loads with relatively low peak power, suggesting a potentially over-dimensioned design heat load. These preliminary findings highlight the need for further investigation and may inform future improvements of DH design guidelines.