View source for District heating

 [[Category:Done 2020-02-29]] 
[[File:Heatpipe_tunnel_copenhagen_2009.jpg|400px|thumb|Figure 1. Underground tunnel containing district heating pipes in Denmark.<Ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Heatpipe_tunnel_copenhagen_2009.jpg</ref>]]
<onlyinclude>'''District heating''' is the process of using a network of [[thermal insulation|insulated]] pipes used to deliver hot [[water]] or [[steam]] from the point of generation to people in a district (end users).</onlyinclude><Ref name=ade>Association for Decentralized Energy. (August 26, 2015). ''What is District Heating?'' [Online], Available: http://www.theade.co.uk/what-is-district-heating_191.html</ref> District heating is often used for [[Residential energy use|residential]] areas, [[Industrial energy use|industries]] and universities, which avoids the need to produce [[heat]] in individual homes, while still allowing for [[energy efficiency|efficient]] transfer of this heat. 

This heat can be provided directly from sources such as [[fossil fuel]], [[solar energy]] and [[geothermal district heating]] plants, [[heat pump]]s using [[electricity]], or [[fuel cell]]s. It can also come as a by-product of [[electrical generation]] in a [[cogeneration]] plant.<ref name=ade/> Once the hot water or steam is produced in a plant, it can travel up to 30 [[meter|km]] or further if there are multiple heat sources connected together.<ref name=ade/> 

The [[Drake Landing solar project]] in Okotoks, AB, Canada is a district heating system that makes use of the [[Sun]]'s [[radiant energy]]. It takes in heat via [[solar collector]]s year-round, stores most underground during the summer, then uses this heat during the cold winter months. 52 homes make use of this [[energy]], and 97% of their [[space heating]] needs are supplied by it.<ref name=nrcan>Natural Resources Canada. (August 14, 2015). ''Drake Landing Solar Community'' [Online], Available: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/media-room/backgrounders/2012/3299</ref> Visit the page '''[[Drake Landing solar project|here]]''' for more information.

==Benefits==

There are a few clear advantages of using district heating:<ref name=ade2>Association for Decentralized Energy. (August 26, 2015). ''Advantages and Benefits'' [Online], Available: http://www.theade.co.uk/advantages--benefits_192.html</ref> 

*Allows a broad range of energy sources including both [[fuel]]s and [[primary energy flow]]s to work together to provide heat, which increases reliability and efficiency
*Helps to manage the supply and demand of heat, to avoid unnecessary production while still meeting needs
*Ability to increase [[efficiency]] of a fuel when a [[cogeneration]] plant is used
*Reduces labour and maintenance costs associated with individual systems
*Introduces opportunities for [[renewable energy]] sources which would otherwise not be economic or practical

==For Further Reading== 
*[[Cogeneration]]
*[[Space heating]]
*[[Geothermal district heating]]
*[[Drake Landing solar project]]
*Or explore a [[Special:Random|random page]]

==References==
{{reflist}}[[Category:Uploaded]]