Modelling District Heating Cooperations in Stockholm : An Interdisciplinary Study of a Regional Energy System

In this paper, a combination of methods from social science (interviews) and technical science (modelling) have been used to analyse the potential for cooperation in the present and future district heating system in Stockholm. The aim of the paper is to explore barriers and driving forces for energy cooperation in the Stockholm district heating system and to analyse the potential for combined heat and power generation in the system. In the study it was found that with better connectivity in existing systems, the annual system cost would decrease by approximately 10 million €, and with new CHP plants a similar potential exists. There is also a large potential for decreasing the local and global emissions of CO2 with CHP plants. The results from the interviews showed that the existing cooperation has a long history and is working well today. The advantages are higher supply security and economic benefits, while disadvantages are a need for more administration and control because of a more complex system. That the barriers to cooperation are seldom technical is another conclusion. With the combination of methods, we have gained a better understanding of the actual potential for the development of the system.