Evaluation of the cost of using power plant reject heat in low-temperature district heating and cooling networks

The purpose of this paper is to assess the economic impact following as a result of the conversion of conventional stations to cogeneration plants connected to a system for distributing heat and refrigeration. The analysis will be carried out through a financial evaluation in order to assess yearly variations of the whole scheme expenditure. In particular, yearly capital and operating costs of supplying cold and heat to urban areas that represent weather conditions in northern, central, and southern Europe (Oldenburg-Wilhelmshaven, Bristol, and Cartagena, respectively) were studied. In the base case scenario, today conditions are represented; they will be compared with alternative scenarios in which existing conventional thermal power stations will be converted into cogeneration plants. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.