HEAT-SUPPLY IN THE NETHERLANDS - A SYSTEMS-ANALYSIS OF COSTS, EXERGY EFFICIENCY, CO2 AND NOX EMISSIONS

About 50% of the primary energy supply in The Netherlands is used for heat production. To achieve a sustainable heat-supply system, it is ne cessary to obtain insight into costs, efficiency and environmental imp acts for existing and possible future technologies. We have performed a comparative system analysis on six possible heat-supply chains (dist ribution and conversion) providing low-temperature heat to households to obtain a clear picture of their likely long-term economic, energeti c and environmental performance to the year 2030. The systems studied are based on natural gas distribution [local condensing boilers or mic ro-cogeneration (indoors)] and on electricity (heat-pumps) and heat-di stribution (district heat and small-scale cogeneration). A systems ana lysis was used. A heat-supply system based on district heating and/or electricity distribution turns out to be a good alternative to the pre sent gas-based system. In addition, introduction of these systems will facilitate the future sustainability of energy sources. (C) 1997 Else vier Science Ltd.