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District Energy
Both Denmark and Sweden have adopted district energy systems as one of their primary means of reducing their energy consumption. The heat generated from electrical power stations or industrial processes, which otherwise would be exhausted as waste heat, is instead captured and piped through extensive hot water systems, providing hot water and space heating for thousands of homes and offices.

Helsingor CHP plant - 1 The Helsingør CHP plant provides electricity and heat to the town of Helsingør and other surrounding regions. The tank on the left side of the photo is a thermal storage tank. This allows the plant to produce electricty during peak demand periods, when rates are highest, while storing the thermal energy for several hours or days, until it is needed to meet heating loads. (photo by Energi E2) Helsingor CHP plant - 1
Helsingor CHP plant - 2 Since electrical generating facilities in Denmark are CHP plants, producing both electricity and heat, they must be located relatively close (within 5 to 10 miles) of the urban centers whose thermal loads they serve. Therefore, all plants are architectually designed to fit into the urban landscape, while still reflecting their utilitarian nature. (photo by Energi E2) Helsingor CHP plant - 2
Wood chip fuel Wood chips and other biofuels form a very viable fuel source for small-scale CHP plants in Denmark. (photo by Jayson Antonoff, grnNRG Consulting) Wood chip fuel
Straw bales for CHP plant Straw is another biofuel that is beginning to be used more commonly in Danish CHP and district heating plants. Although this photo was taken in a small plant in Hals, in northern Denmark, straw is also a primary fuel for the new Avedore 2 power plant that serves Copenhagen. Avedore 2 generates 570Mw of electricity, meeting the needs of some 800,000 households, and the same amount of heat for approximately 110,000 homes. It is capable of using oil and natural gas, but primarily uses wood pellets and straw. The wood pellets are made from surplus wood from Junckers, the world's largest manufacturer of hardwood flooring. As such, they are totally CO2 neutral and the 300,000 tons burned annually make up half of the fuel used at Avedore 2. This is connected to a separate unit - the world's largest straw-fired boiler - that supplies the turbines with additional steam. It burns 150,000 tons of straw a year, accounting for 10 per cent of Avedore 2's fuel consumption. Not only is this process CO2 neutral, but all of the ash is returned to the fields where it was grown for its fertilizer value. (photo by Jayson Antonoff, grnNRG Consulting) Straw bales for CHP plant
Malmo district energy plan This diagram illustrates the district energy system for Malmö, Sweden. Heat is captured from nine different sources throughout the city, including industrial plants, electrical generation CHP plants, and the sewage treatment plant. Dedicated boilers are also available for meeting peak heating demands. This heat is delivered via hot water distribution pipes to customers throughout the city, for space heating and hot water needs. (figure by Sydkraft Group) Malmo district energy plan
District energy piping Preinsulated piping is used for the district energy infrastrucuture that provides heating for most of the homes and commercial buildings in Denmark. The insulation allows the system to deliver hot water at approximately 100 degrees C to customers up to 10 or 15 miles away, with a net temperature drop of only a few degrees. (photo by Liudmila Bondareva) District energy piping

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