Something is sustainable in the state of Denmark: A review of the Danish district heating sector

This paper provides a coherent review of district heating in Denmark, exploring past, present and future perspectives. Danish is known as unique internationally terms heat planning strategies, technical solutions combinations, energy efficiency sustainability, ownership models financing, it has captured the attention communities stakeholders worldwide from early days. Historically, ban on landfills incentivised waste incineration, strategic integration combined power plants recycling industry all increased system. Ultimately, this contributed to top World Energy Council ranking system according trilemma criteria. A cooperative mind-set, welfare state values notions efficiency-, availability-, independency- sustainability were pivotal for evolution networks throughout Denmark. Other features sector include large-scale collective planning, mandatory connection, non-profit principle, same approximate price customers irrespective density, relatively high average heating. Moreover, knowledge hubs have led world-wide exports technologies know-how. Future challenges increasing biomass import dependency, changing role system, transitions non-combustion supplies, competition individual pumps single-family houses. However, ‘smart’ thermal grids will increasingly facilitate coupling processes more renewable resources are integrated into Denmark internationally.