Details
1-day course
CPD Credit: 6.5 hours, C1
Course Overview
This course is intended to provide an introduction to district heating.
Unlike many countries in Europe, district heating is an unknown technology to
many in Ireland but is set to play a key role in the decarbonisation of
Ireland’s heat sector and reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Recent national heat studies from
Heat Roadmaps Europe and
SEAI have found that more than 50% of Ireland’s heat demand is feasible for
district heating. This in conjunction with
Renewable
Energy Ireland’s “40 by 30” national heat study
which targets 10% of
heating to be supplied by DH networks by 2030 (up from less than 1% today)
highlights the level of upskilling and job creation potential in this sector in
the coming years. District heating also provides an opportunity for a just
transition for those with complementary skills currently working in the fossil
fuel sector (engineers, welders, civils contractors, etc.).
This course will provide attendees with an introduction to district
heating, its benefits for different stakeholders, the evolution of heat
networks, the policy context for Ireland, the skills gaps in scaling up DH roll
out, delivery models that can be used to develop heat networks, and projects
currently being developed in Ireland. Delegates of this course will also
discover the key design concepts for heat networks, how building heating
systems can improve the efficiency of networks, how DH can support a more
renewable electricity grid through sector integration and useful tools that can
help delegates determine if DH is viable in their area or for their
development.
As part of this course a resource pack of helpful guidance documents,
heat planning tools, relevant policy documents and standards will be shared
with all delegates.
Learning Objectives
Following this
course, attendees will:
- Understand what a
district heating network is and how they have evolved
- Learn the benefits
of DH, why it is now becoming an important part of Ireland’s decarbonisation
effort and where this is being reflected in policy at a local, national and EU
level
- Learn the key
concepts in the design and optimisation of district heating networks and these
effect project feasibility
- Learn how to
identify areas suitable for district heating
- Learn effective
stakeholder engagement for DH projects
- Become familiar
with the various business models that can be used when developing projects
- Learn about the
innovative networks currently being developed in Ireland
- Learn about the
potential role of district heating in enabling greater renewables on the
electricity grid through sector integration
Course Programme
- What is district
heating
- Types of district
heating networks
- Why Ireland is
adopting district heating - the benefits of district heating & supporting
policies
- Stages of
developing a district heating network
- Heat planning -
purpose, method and useful tools for identifying district heating opportunities
which consider demand density, heat producing technologies (including waste
heat) and physical constraints
- Stakeholder
engagement - identifying, prioritising and communicating with stakeholders
- How to assess the
feasibility of possible networks - Key elements of the techno-economic analysis
for networks
- Key concepts that
influence the design and cost of heat networks
- Introduction to
methods of optimising building heating systems for connection the DH networks
- Business model
options for DH projects
- Projects currently
under development in Ireland
- Sector integration
potential for heat networks as a means of energy storage, grid balancing etc.
Who Should Attend?
This course is suited to those looking to get an introduction to
district heating.
Trainer Profile
John O'Shea is the
Energy Systems Analyst / Heat & Electricity Lead with Codema - Dublin’s
Energy Agency. He holds a PGD in Sustainable Energy from University College
Cork, a BEng in Civil Engineering from IT Carlow and is a CIBSE certified heat
networks consultant that has worked in the areas of district energy, energy
masterplanning, policy development, techno-economic analysis and sustainable
business case development since 2013. John also has expertise in the design,
optimisation and hydraulic analysis of district heating networks, and
large-scale district cooling thermo-dynamic analysis from working on many
projects across Europe and the Middle East. During this period John developed
specialist knowledge in many heating, cooling and electricity generating
technologies common in integrated energy systems like DH networks.
John has also acted as an advisor on policy within the district energy
sector in both the UK and Ireland specifically in the areas of financial
support mechanisms, development strategy and regulatory compliance. John has
also worked on a number of policy recommendation papers at an EU level with
organisations such as Euroheat and Power.
Since joining Codema in 2018 John has worked on the Interreg NWE South
Dublin District Heating project in Tallaght and the Dublin District Heating
System in Poolbeg as a technical advisor but also partaking in stakeholder
engagement, developing procurement strategy and implementation, and performing
whole life cost benefit analysis for proposed DH systems. In the case of the
South Dublin project this innovative system seeks to utilise low-temperature
waste heat from a data centre to feed large-scale heat pumps that supply space
heating and hot water to a cluster of nearby public and residential buildings
in its initial phases. John is also responsible for the development of the
Dublin heat source map and the South Dublin Transition Roadmap, to aid the identification
and development of further district heating opportunities in the region.
John has also lead the development of the Dublin Region Energy
Masterplan which analyses the cost-optimal pathway for decarbonising Dublin
across electricity, heat and transport to 2030 and 2050. This spatially-led
integrated energy model is the first of its kind in Ireland and looks to
include local technical constraints as well as socioeconomic impacts in
developing cost-optimal low-carbon pathway for Dublin.
Engineers Ireland supports the Sustainable Development Goals. This event contributes to Engineers Ireland's Sustainability Framework.
Please contact the Team for further information on scheduled course dates and In-Company options. You can reach us by phone: 01 665 1305 or email cpdtraining@engineersireland.ie