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In most places with district heating, the heat that goes to the heating system is waste heat which turbines of a nearby power plant cannot use. This applies to
by nine_k 2y ago
In most places with district heating, the heat that goes to the heating system is waste heat which turbines of a nearby power plant cannot use. This applies to fuel-fired and nuclear power plants alike. (Keywords: Carnot cycle efficiency.)
So using electricity for heating would be just throwing free heat away. Heat distribution networks are of course not free though.
Electric heating would be an economical win if the electricity could be harvested by solar and wind generators, and stored. Storing solar heat directly is much trickier.
- calaphos 2y agoIt's not quite waste heat because the cold side of thermal power plants wants to be colder than district heating temperatures for best efficiency. There is some loss in electrical efficiency compared to non cogeneration plants, but the combined efficiency is a lot higher.