New CO2 neutral city area with integrated distric heating system of the future in Høje Taastrup - Phase 1: Preparation of demonstration

The aim of the project has been to show how a new quarter in the municipality of Høje Taastrup called ''Gammelsø'' can be C02-neutral, including showing how district heating in a developed condition/design can be an important part hereof. The project bas been a promoter in the municipal process of developing the Gammelsø area into a sustainable quarter. The project has contributed considerably to developing and maturing many climate initiatives in Høje Taastrup municipality - including particularly having made an effort to develop the plans for a C02- neutral quarter called ''Vision Gammelsø''. In this context, the project has involved relevant actors in the development of an energy concept for the quarter. The concept was later used as basis for an EU application to the CONCERTO programme, for which Høje Taastrup achieved final grant agreement in December 2009. In this way, the municipality obtained funding for a 6-year demonstration project ''ECO-Life'', which will focus on energy measures in Hedehusene, Fløng and the Gammelsø region. The project will be carried out in cooperation with a municipality in Lithuania (Birstonas) and Belgium (Kortrijk) In addition, the project supported the development of a climate plan and policy in the municipality. During the life of the project, the council has carried out a wide range of ambitious initiatives which to a great extent stems from the project and in particularly the cooperation that the project has brought along. In particular should be mentioned the preparation of a climate plan, of which ''ECO-Life'' is an essential element, arrangement of a climate summit, thermography of the municipality, and an agreement with Project Better Place and the electric vehicle company ChoosEV. Finally, the project has resulted in a number of tools and guidelines that could be used by similar projects. Based on a preliminary draft proposal for the district, a number of energy concepts have been assessed that can make the district C02-neutral. Primary focus has been on the heat supply. It is recommended to establish a low-temperature heating network, since such a solution provides the best possibility of using surplus heat and renewable energy sources. Three energy efficient district heating solutions have been investigated in more detail: - Local low-temperature district heating network with ground heat and solar heat; - Low-temperature district heating network based on return heat from the HTF/VEKS system; - Low-temperature district heating network with heat driven heat pumps and solar heat. All three options are interesting. The ''return heat solution'' has less C02 displacement potential, but will require a minimal investment cost compared to a regular connection to the HTF/VEKS district heating network. With the assumptions used, the solution with heat-powered pumps and a central solar heating plant provides a considerably lower C02 displacement price than a solution with central ground and solar heating. It is therefore recommended to further analyse the solution with a heat driven heat pump. To make the energy supply of the district C02 neutral in the short tenn, it will be necessary to install wind turbines with a total capacity of approx. 6 MW, which for that particular area at this time would be the most cost-effective solution, i.e. will have the lowest C02 displacement price