The global district heating market was calculated to be USD 163.42 billion in 2020 and is predicted to reach USD 203.42 billion by 2025, with a CAGR of 3.8% from 2020 to 2025. Systems District heating systems provide higher efficiency and better pollution control than locally operated boilers. Combined Heat and Power District Heating (CHPDH) is one of the cheapest ways to minimize carbon emissions and has the lowest carbon emissions of all fossil fuel plants. Recently, district heating is emerging as one of the potential renewable energy markets, where solar energy is predicted to play an important role during the foreseen period. This solar thermal technology is widely employed in industrial and residential areas. District energy systems provide heating and cooling to buildings, often in a neighborhood, downtown, or on campus. These systems are fed by a power station or a complex of sources distributed through a network of underground pipes. District heating is a system that is employed to distribute heat over an area of land through an insulated pipe system for commercial and residential needs, such as water heating and space heating. The heat is obtained mainly by a cogeneration plant that burns biomass or fossil fuels. In addition, district heating uses heat pumps, solar heating and geothermal heating. The waste heat from nuclear electricity can also be employed for district heating.
Powered by coal, the first generation was a steam system, using concrete ducts. These were not very effective. The second generation was powered by coal and oil, and the energy was transmitted using pressurized hot water as a coolant. The third generation was fueled by biomass, coal and waste. Pre-insulated pipes were employed for transmission. The fourth generation was powered by cogeneration plants, using waste heat from industry, biomass power plants, and geothermal and solar thermal energy. The fifth generation was powered by distant fossil fuel power plants or renewable energy sources. The fifth generation is currently employed in district heating.
In traditional heating solutions, a specific type of heat source is employed, for example coal, fuel oil or natural gas, which implies that the heating bill depends entirely on the price of a specific fuel. In district heating, heat is produced in central units with various types of fuels. With district heating, it is possible to take advantage of price variations of different types of fuels because it uses more heat sources. District heating is extremely flexible with regard to the choice of heat source; It can accommodate all heat sources, including wind and solar power, excess heat from industry, cogeneration, and boilers. In large district heating systems with multiple heat sources, district heating makes it easy to switch from one fuel source to another depending on situations such as price, available heat source, and environmental ambitions.
Restraints:
The investment required for the heat production unit varies according to its type; in the case of boilers and renewable heat sources a considerable investment is required, whereas if the heat comes from excess heat from industries and data centers, the investment required is comparatively less. Piping systems for district heating transmission and distribution are crucial and require large investments, as the pipes must be of superior quality to avoid heat wastage. In addition to high investment, district heating solution providers are reluctant to invest due to ever-changing environmental regulations, limiting the expansion of the global district heating market.
Digitization is further driven by the accelerating pace of adoption of cutting-edge technology products and solutions such as smart meters, on-call heating solutions, home automation, smart infrastructure, and many more. With these solutions, consumers can actively participate in balancing future heating needs. Rapid technological development quickly reduces heating costs with higher efficiency.
Challenges:
The district heating solution includes the production and distribution of heat as the main equipment. District heating solution providers face challenges in transporting heat from source to end users with little or no loss during transportation. For transport, heat transfer tubes must be properly insulated and robust; otherwise it will cause heat loss. Whereas in traditional heating, it does not matter if the heat is lost through the heating pipes that connect the radiators, as it remains in the heating rooms. However, the loss of heat through the distribution pipes in district heating results in a loss of money and heat, which is not profitable. Therefore, robust heat exchangers and smart meters are needed to reduce or prevent heat loss when heat is distributed. Therefore, the need for robust equipment to transport heat poses a challenge for the expansion of the global district heating market.
REPORT COVERAGE:
REPORT METRIC |
DETAILS |
Market Size Available |
2019 – 2025 |
Base Year |
2019 |
Forecast Period |
2020 - 2025 |
CAGR |
3.8% |
Segments Covered |
By Product, Type, Consumption, Distribution Channel and Region |
Various Analyses Covered |
Global, Regional & Country Level Analysis, Segment-Level Analysis, DROC, PESTLE Analysis, Porter’s Five Forces Analysis, Competitive Landscape, Analyst Overview on Investment Opportunities |
Regions Covered |
North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, Middle East & Africa |
Market Leaders Profiled |
Vattenfall AB, Engie, Danfoss AG, NRG Energy, Inc., Statkraft, Shinryo Corporation, Logstor A/S, Vital Energi Ltd., Kelag, Göteborg Energi, FVB Energy Inc., Alfa Laval, Ramboll Group A/S, Savon Voima OYJ, Enwave Energy Corporation, Orsted A/S, Helen Oy, Keppel Corporation Limited and Steag New Energies, among others. |
By heat source:
The market for renewable sources is predicted to grow at the highest CAGR during the foreseen period.
By plant type:
CHP is predicted to lead the global district heating market during the anticipated period.
By application:
The district heating market for residential applications is likely to develop at the fastest CAGR throughout the foreseen period.
North America
North America is supposed to dominate the worldwide market during the foreseen period. It should be followed by Europe. The Asia-Pacific market is likely to develop at a moderate pace during the outlook period. Latin America, the Middle East and Africa are predicted to represent a small part of the global district heating market in the near future. North America has followed Europe and is rolling out technology to promote renewable sources over conventional sources. The shale gas deposits in the region resulting in a low cost of natural gas are predicted to limit the development possibilities of the global district heating market.
Few of the major competitors currently working in district heating market are Fortum, Vattenfall AB, Engie, Danfoss AG, NRG Energy, Inc., Statkraft, Shinryo Corporation, Logstor A/S, Vital Energi Ltd., Kelag, Göteborg Energi, FVB Energy Inc., Alfa Laval, Ramboll Group A/S, Savon Voima OYJ, Enwave Energy Corporation, Orsted A/S, Helen Oy, Keppel Corporation Limited and Steag New Energies, among others.
1. Introduction
1.1 Market Definition
1.2 Scope of the report
1.3 Study Assumptions
1.4 Base Currency, Base Year and Forecast Periods
2. Research Methodology
2.1 Analysis Design
2.2 Research Phases
2.2.1 Secondary Research
2.2.2 Primary Research
2.2.3 Data Modelling
2.2.4 Expert Validation
2.3 Study Timeline
3. Report Overview
3.1 Executive Summary
3.2 Key Inferencees
4. Market Dynamics
4.1 Impact Analysis
4.1.1 Drivers
4.1.2 Restaints
4.1.3 Opportunities
4.2 Regulatory Environment
4.3 Technology Timeline & Recent Trends
5. Competitor Benchmarking Analysis
5.1 Key Player Benchmarking
5.1.1 Market share analysis
5.1.2 Products/Service
5.1.3 Regional Presence
5.2 Mergers & Acquistion Landscape
5.3 Joint Ventures & Collaborations
6. Market Segmentation
6.1 District Heating Market, By Heat Source
6.1.1 Coal
6.1.2 Natural Gas
6.1.3 Renewable
6.1.4 Oil & Petroleum Products
6.1.5 Market Size Estimations & Forecasts (2019-2024)
6.1.6 Y-o-Y Growth Rate Analysis
6.1.7 Market Attractiveness Index
6.2 District Heating Market, By Plant Type
6.2.1 Boiler plant
6.2.2 CHP
6.2.3 Market Size Estimations & Forecasts (2019-2024)
6.2.4 Y-o-Y Growth Rate Analysis
6.2.5 Market Attractiveness Index
6.3 District Heating Market, By Application
6.3.1 Residential
6.3.2 Commercial
6.3.3 Industrial
6.3.4 Market Size Estimations & Forecasts (2019-2024)
6.3.5 Y-o-Y Growth Rate Analysis
6.3.6 Market Attractiveness Index
7. Geographical Landscape
7.1 Global Identity Governance and Administration Market, by Region
7.2 North America - Market Analysis (2018 - 2024)
7.2.1 By Country
7.2.2 By Heat Source
7.2.3 By Plant Type
7.2.4 By Application
7.3 Europe
7.3.1 By Country
7.3.2 By Heat Source
7.3.3 By Plant Type
7.3.4 By Application
7.4 Asia Pacific
7.4.1 By Country
7.4.2 By Heat Source
7.4.3 By Plant Type
7.4.4 By Application
7.5 Latin America
7.5.1 By Country
7.5.2 By Heat Source
7.5.3 By Plant Type
7.5.4 By Application
7.6 Middle East and Africa
7.6.1 By Country
7.6.2 By Heat Source
7.6.3 By Plant Type
7.6.4 By Application
8. Key Player Analysis
8.1 Fortum
8.1.1 Business Description
8.1.2 Products/Service
8.1.3 Financials
8.1.4 SWOT Analysis
8.1.5 Recent Developments
8.1.6 Analyst Overview
8.2 Vattenfall AB
8.3 Danfoss AG
8.4 NRG Energy, Inc
8.5 Shinryo Corporation
8.6 Logstor A/S
8.7 Vital Energi Ltd
8.8 FVB Energy Inc
8.9 Alfa Laval
8.10 Ramboll Group A/S
9. Market Outlook & Investment Opportunities
Appendix
List of Tables
List of Figures