Full Title:         
Solar Thermal as additional heat source for District Heating Systems

Author:             
Vipul Sarnot

Semester:         
4th

Supervisors:     
Prof. Dr. Bastian Schröter, zafh.net; HFT Stuttgart
Dr. Dirk Pietruschka,  zafh.net; HFT Stuttgart
MSc. Ruben Pesch, zafh.net; HFT Stuttgart

Date:            
Summer semester 2021

Award:             
Best of 2021 by HFT Stuttgart

The heating industry accounts for half of the world's energy demand. Though, this is a mix of household and industrial heating, with half of the energy used in industrial activities. Of this, fossil fuels account for about 75% of heating and cooling, while renewable energy accounts for only 22%.
The aim of the study was to find a way to include solar thermal energy as a second source of renewable energy for an existing wood chip-fired plant considering the energetic and economic efficiency in Weihenbronn.
This study examines the solar thermal potential for the district heating system in Weihenbronn. The research aimed to develop a parameter study with different sizes of solar collector sizes and tank volumes. Three of the most energy-efficient and cost-effective scenarios were chosen to be studied in greater depth.

Here you can find the documentation of the master-thesis

The challenge in integrating solar thermal energy into district heating systems is to do it in an economically and ecologically efficient way.