Barriers to and enablers of district cooling expansion in Sweden
(2018) In Journal of Cleaner Production 172. p.39-45- Abstract
Although Sweden is a northern country with fairly low outdoor temperatures most of the year, its district cooling (DC) systems are expected to expand. Some actors claim that there is potential for at least a doubling of DC in Sweden. One reason for this is that demand for cooling increases with the increased use of electronics such as computers, resulting in higher indoor temperatures from waste heat production. Although DC should have considerable growth potential based on its convenience and climate benefits, its growth has been surprisingly slow. This article discusses the barriers to and enablers of DC expansion. We examine how energy companies, property owners, and tenants perceive the barriers to and enablers of installing and... (More)
Although Sweden is a northern country with fairly low outdoor temperatures most of the year, its district cooling (DC) systems are expected to expand. Some actors claim that there is potential for at least a doubling of DC in Sweden. One reason for this is that demand for cooling increases with the increased use of electronics such as computers, resulting in higher indoor temperatures from waste heat production. Although DC should have considerable growth potential based on its convenience and climate benefits, its growth has been surprisingly slow. This article discusses the barriers to and enablers of DC expansion. We examine how energy companies, property owners, and tenants perceive the barriers to and enablers of installing and using DC. How do these actors view the present and future need for cooling? What would make DC more attractive according to these actors? These questions were studied using surveys and in-depth interviews. The results indicate that lack of information is the most important current barrier to DC expansion, a barrier that could easily be addressed, making information an enabler of DC. Earlier grid-based energy systems in Sweden were established through public–private collaboration, and such collaboration could promote the ongoing expansion of DC. For example, municipalities played an important role when district heating was built, but this has not been the case for DC. Another possible enabler is the eco-labelling of DC, which has so far played a minor role in the Swedish system.
(Less)
- author
- Palm, Jenny LU and Gustafsson, Sara
- organization
- publishing date
- 2018-01-20
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Barriers, District cooling, Large technical systems, Sustainable energy, Urban
- in
- Journal of Cleaner Production
- volume
- 172
- pages
- 7 pages
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85038820492
- ISSN
- 0959-6526
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.141
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- da1b9cf3-c970-4a43-956e-3c1c1ba0ff32
- date added to LUP
- 2018-01-03 07:28:31
- date last changed
- 2022-04-17 17:53:37
@article{da1b9cf3-c970-4a43-956e-3c1c1ba0ff32,
abstract = {{<p>Although Sweden is a northern country with fairly low outdoor temperatures most of the year, its district cooling (DC) systems are expected to expand. Some actors claim that there is potential for at least a doubling of DC in Sweden. One reason for this is that demand for cooling increases with the increased use of electronics such as computers, resulting in higher indoor temperatures from waste heat production. Although DC should have considerable growth potential based on its convenience and climate benefits, its growth has been surprisingly slow. This article discusses the barriers to and enablers of DC expansion. We examine how energy companies, property owners, and tenants perceive the barriers to and enablers of installing and using DC. How do these actors view the present and future need for cooling? What would make DC more attractive according to these actors? These questions were studied using surveys and in-depth interviews. The results indicate that lack of information is the most important current barrier to DC expansion, a barrier that could easily be addressed, making information an enabler of DC. Earlier grid-based energy systems in Sweden were established through public–private collaboration, and such collaboration could promote the ongoing expansion of DC. For example, municipalities played an important role when district heating was built, but this has not been the case for DC. Another possible enabler is the eco-labelling of DC, which has so far played a minor role in the Swedish system.</p>}},
author = {{Palm, Jenny and Gustafsson, Sara}},
issn = {{0959-6526}},
keywords = {{Barriers; District cooling; Large technical systems; Sustainable energy; Urban}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{01}},
pages = {{39--45}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Journal of Cleaner Production}},
title = {{Barriers to and enablers of district cooling expansion in Sweden}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/42803404/DistrictcoolingPostprint.pdf}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.141}},
volume = {{172}},
year = {{2018}},
}