Simulation and Calculation Tools for Solar District Heating
Subtask A: Concepts for Efficiently Providing Solar Heat at Medium-High Temperature Level
July 2025 - PDF 0.68MB

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of simulation and calculation tools used in solar district heating (SDH) applications by evaluating a survey on simulation tools and compiling factsheets for selected tools that are well represented among researchers and engineers.

The results of the survey show that, in addition to public tools, internal (non-public) tools are frequently used. While internal tools are often customised to specific industry or research needs, their lack of accessibility poses a challenge for collaboration and reproducibility in research. These tools are used in different fields of work, with most being used in research and development and engineering. They are also used in different project phases, primarily for preliminary studies, basic analysis and feasibility studies.

Annual Yield Check of Large Scale Solar Thermal Systems
Subtask A: Concepts for Efficiently Providing Solar Heat at Medium-High Temperature Level
April 2025 - PDF 0.49MB
Publisher: IEA SHC Task 68

This document describes a simple methodology for verifying the predicted annual yield of large-scale solar systems. This method was developed by Fraunhofer ISE and Solar Experience GmbH as part of the ProSolNetz project (FKZ: 03EN603F) (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz [BMWK.IIB5] & Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH [PT-J.ESN6], 2025) and is described in ISO/DIS 24194. This report is divided into an overview of currently available methods for field characterization, which are relevant in the context of method development. It shows the global objectives that were at the forefront of the development of a method for checking the annual yield of a large-scale solar installation, presents the most important changes in the revision of ISO 24194 in this context and describes the practical application of the annual yield check as well as the restrictions that the procedure imposes on the operating and environmental conditions.

Solar Collector Technologies for District Heating
Subtask A: Concepts for Efficiently Providing Solar Heat at Medium-High Temperature Level
September 2024 - PDF 1.15MB
Editor: Silas Tamm, Magdalena Berberich

Existing district heating networks in Europe often supply heat in a temperature range of 80 °C to 120 °C. To decarbonise these systems, solar thermal has a great potential. Up to now, high-performance flat-plate collectors and evacuated tube collectors are state of the art for the integration of solar heat into district heating (DH) networks and are well developed and described. However, other collector technologies, such as parabolic troughs and linear Fresnel collectors, can provide heat in a wider temperature range and might offer higher efficiency and advantages over the state of the art, like tracking and the possibility to control the heat yield.