High-Efficiency Cogeneration: A Viable Solution for the Decarbonization of Cities with District Heating Systems

In a global context marked by increasingly evident climate change and an urgent need to reduce carbon emissions, efficient and environmentally friendly energy solutions are no longer just an option, but a necessity. Decarbonizing cities is an essential process for combating climate change and creati...

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Main Authors: Pavel Atănăsoae, Radu Dumitru Pentiuc, Laurențiu Dan Milici
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1581
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author Pavel Atănăsoae
Radu Dumitru Pentiuc
Laurențiu Dan Milici
author_facet Pavel Atănăsoae
Radu Dumitru Pentiuc
Laurențiu Dan Milici
author_sort Pavel Atănăsoae
collection DOAJ
description In a global context marked by increasingly evident climate change and an urgent need to reduce carbon emissions, efficient and environmentally friendly energy solutions are no longer just an option, but a necessity. Decarbonizing cities is an essential process for combating climate change and creating a sustainable urban environment. This article provides an analysis of the decarbonization possibilities of the building heating sector in the case of cities with district heating systems. A case study referring to the district heating system of Suceava city, Romania, is provided. The results of this study show a significant reduction in carbon emissions per unit of thermal energy delivered (95.97%) from the district heating system after 2015 because of the change in technology and primary energy source (cogeneration and biomass). Also, a comparative analysis is provided: district heating vs. individual heating in terms of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) emissions for the same amount of heat supplied to end consumers in 2023. The comparative analysis highlights a difference in CO<sub>2</sub> emission of 81.66% (0.220 kg CO<sub>2</sub>/kWh for individual heating and 0.040 kg CO<sub>2</sub>/kWh for district heating). The implications of high-efficiency cogeneration in the decarbonization of the building heating sector are analyzed and highlighted.
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series Energies
spelling doaj-art-23fe928f84f64359ac3ac16cd9a66ec02025-08-20T02:09:13ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-03-01187158110.3390/en18071581High-Efficiency Cogeneration: A Viable Solution for the Decarbonization of Cities with District Heating SystemsPavel Atănăsoae0Radu Dumitru Pentiuc1Laurențiu Dan Milici2Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Stefan Cel Mare University of Suceava, Str. Universitatii 13, 720229 Suceava, RomaniaFaculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Stefan Cel Mare University of Suceava, Str. Universitatii 13, 720229 Suceava, RomaniaFaculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Stefan Cel Mare University of Suceava, Str. Universitatii 13, 720229 Suceava, RomaniaIn a global context marked by increasingly evident climate change and an urgent need to reduce carbon emissions, efficient and environmentally friendly energy solutions are no longer just an option, but a necessity. Decarbonizing cities is an essential process for combating climate change and creating a sustainable urban environment. This article provides an analysis of the decarbonization possibilities of the building heating sector in the case of cities with district heating systems. A case study referring to the district heating system of Suceava city, Romania, is provided. The results of this study show a significant reduction in carbon emissions per unit of thermal energy delivered (95.97%) from the district heating system after 2015 because of the change in technology and primary energy source (cogeneration and biomass). Also, a comparative analysis is provided: district heating vs. individual heating in terms of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) emissions for the same amount of heat supplied to end consumers in 2023. The comparative analysis highlights a difference in CO<sub>2</sub> emission of 81.66% (0.220 kg CO<sub>2</sub>/kWh for individual heating and 0.040 kg CO<sub>2</sub>/kWh for district heating). The implications of high-efficiency cogeneration in the decarbonization of the building heating sector are analyzed and highlighted.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1581high-efficiency cogenerationdistrict heatingdecarbonization of citiesprimary energy savingsustainable developmentenergy efficiency
spellingShingle Pavel Atănăsoae
Radu Dumitru Pentiuc
Laurențiu Dan Milici
High-Efficiency Cogeneration: A Viable Solution for the Decarbonization of Cities with District Heating Systems
Energies
high-efficiency cogeneration
district heating
decarbonization of cities
primary energy saving
sustainable development
energy efficiency
title High-Efficiency Cogeneration: A Viable Solution for the Decarbonization of Cities with District Heating Systems
title_full High-Efficiency Cogeneration: A Viable Solution for the Decarbonization of Cities with District Heating Systems
title_fullStr High-Efficiency Cogeneration: A Viable Solution for the Decarbonization of Cities with District Heating Systems
title_full_unstemmed High-Efficiency Cogeneration: A Viable Solution for the Decarbonization of Cities with District Heating Systems
title_short High-Efficiency Cogeneration: A Viable Solution for the Decarbonization of Cities with District Heating Systems
title_sort high efficiency cogeneration a viable solution for the decarbonization of cities with district heating systems
topic high-efficiency cogeneration
district heating
decarbonization of cities
primary energy saving
sustainable development
energy efficiency
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1581
work_keys_str_mv AT pavelatanasoae highefficiencycogenerationaviablesolutionforthedecarbonizationofcitieswithdistrictheatingsystems
AT radudumitrupentiuc highefficiencycogenerationaviablesolutionforthedecarbonizationofcitieswithdistrictheatingsystems
AT laurentiudanmilici highefficiencycogenerationaviablesolutionforthedecarbonizationofcitieswithdistrictheatingsystems