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The European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research and Energy issued a report in 2018 that showed that the hard electrification of energy supply is problematic and may actually be restrictive in achieving our carbon reduction ambitions.
The report also stated that district energy and Sector coupling had the opposite effect and helps in the decarbonisation process, increases flexibility of energy supply, increases reliability thereby reducing global costs and the cost of decarbonisation The recommendation of the report therefore was a focus on Sector coupling rather than hard electrification.
Sector coupling allows energy in various forms to be successfully utilised regardless of changing demands AND changing outputs during any typical 24 hour period.
In short, Sector coupling…
Combines commercial, industrial and domestic sectors
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Is a grid or network of energy sources, energy storage, energy conversion and energy utilisation
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District heating future proofs the supply of heating and DHW and allows for rapid reduction of carbon emissions to multiple end users.
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Enables energy flows in various directions across the net
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Utilises and prioritises waste heat sources
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Stores energy in various formats such as LTHW, electric batteries, hydrogen etc. and converts energy
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Enables low or zero carbon sources, such as wind, solar etc. when waste heat isn’t available
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Allows end users can send energy back into the net
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