The extensive energy use in the European building sector creates opportunities for implementing energy conservation measures (ECMs) in residential buildings. If ECM are implemented in buildings that are connected to a district heating (DH) system, the operation of DH plants may be affected, which in turn may change both revenue and electricity production in cogeneration plants. In this study a local energy system, containing a DH supplier and its customer, has been analysed when implementing three ECMs: heat load control, attic insulation and electricity savings. This study is unique since it analyses economic and CO 2 impacts of the ECMs in both a user and a supplier perspective in combination with a deregulated European electricity market. Results show that for the local energy system electricity savings should be prioritised over a reduction in DH use, both from an economic and a global CO 2 perspective. For the DH supplier attic insulation demonstrates unprofitable results, even though this measure affects the expensive peak load boilers most. Heat load control is however financially beneficial for both the DH supplier and the residences. Furthermore, the relation between the fixed and variable DH costs is highlighted as a key factor for the profitability of the ECMs.

This paper evaluates the economic eects and the potential for reduced CO 2 emissions when biomass gasication applications are introduced in a Swedish district heating (DH) system. The gasication applications included in the study deliver heat to the DH network while producing renewable electricity or biofuels. Gasication applications included are: external superheater for steam from waste incineration (waste boost, WB), gas engine CHP (BIGGE), combined cycle CHP (BIGCC) and production of synthetic natural gas (SNG) for use as transportation fuel. Six scenarios are used, employing two time-perspectivesshort-term and medium-term -and diering in economic input data, investment options and technical system. To evaluate the economic performance an optimisation model is used to identify the most protable alternatives regarding investments and plant operation while meeting the DH demand. This study shows that introducing biomass gasication in the DH system will lead to economic benets for the DH supplier as well as reduce global CO 2 emissions. Biomass gasication signicantly increases the potential for production of high value products (electricity or SNG) in the DH system. However, which form of investment that is most protable is shown to be highly dependent on the level of policy instruments for biofuels and renewable electricity. Biomass gasication applications can thus be highly interesting for DH suppliers in the future, and may be a vital measure to reach the 2020 targets for greenhouse gases and renewable energy, given continued technology development and long-term policy instruments.

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