1. Module overview
This module introduces the main heat production technologies and strategies used in district heating systems, with particular attention to renewable heat sources, waste heat utilisation, heat pumps, combined heat and power, and the economic and environmental assessment of heat production options.
The module first examines renewable and low-carbon heat production pathways, including biomass combustion, biogas, landfill gas, solar district heating and geothermal district heating. It also discusses practical examples of renewable heat production and the role of local energy resources in municipal heat supply strategies.
The second part of the module focuses on waste heat utilisation and heat pumps. It explains how waste heat can be identified, classified, recovered and upgraded for use in district heating networks. Heat exchangers, heat pump configurations and waste heat recovery applications are presented as key technologies for improving energy efficiency and reducing fossil fuel dependence.
The module also introduces combined heat and power systems and their role in district heating. It discusses CHP technologies, operating modes, integration into heat networks, and the main technical, economic and environmental considerations associated with CHP-based heat production.
The module is primarily designed as a reusable teaching resource for educators, lecturers and trainers. It can support lectures, blended learning activities, classroom discussions, practical assignments, case-study work and continuing professional development training. Students and professionals may also use the materials for independent study, especially if they already have basic knowledge of district heating systems, energy conversion technologies, thermodynamics and building services.
2. Main topics covered in the module
- Heat production in district heating systems
- Municipal primary energy supply and heat source selection
- Renewable and low-carbon heat production
- Biomass combustion and energy recovery from waste
- Biomass potential and biomass CHP examples
- Biogas, gasification and landfill gas
- Solar district heating and large-scale solar thermal systems
- Geothermal district heating and cascade utilisation
- Waste heat utilisation in district heating
- Waste heat classification and recovery options
- Heat exchangers for waste heat recovery
- Heat pumps for heat production and waste heat upgrading
- Heat pump configurations and integration into district heating networks
- Combined heat and power systems
- CHP technologies, operating modes and district heating integration
- Economic assessment of heat production technologies
- CAPEX, OPEX, LCOH, payback period and ROI
- Environmental impact, greenhouse gas emissions and lifecycle assessment
- Policy instruments, market trends and future considerations
- Case examples of renewable and low-carbon heat production
3. Learning Outcomes: skills and competences
Upon completion of this module, learners will be able to:
- explain the role of heat production technologies in district heating systems;
- identify and compare renewable and low-carbon heat sources suitable for district heating applications;
- describe the principles of biomass combustion, biogas utilisation, solar district heating and geothermal district heating;
- assess the potential role of local energy resources in municipal heat supply strategies;
- explain the principles of waste heat recovery and classify different types of waste heat sources;
- describe how heat exchangers and heat pumps can be used to recover and upgrade waste heat for district heating;
- compare different heat pump configurations and their suitability for district heating applications;
- explain the operating principles and integration options of combined heat and power systems;
- evaluate the technical, economic and environmental aspects of different heat production pathways;
- apply introductory assessment criteria to compare heat production options for district heating systems.
4. Recommended use of the materials
The materials can be used flexibly in higher education and professional training contexts. Educators and trainers may adapt the guidebook, slides, question bank, practical exercise and case-study resources according to the level, format and objectives of their own teaching.
For educators and trainers
Educators may use the module in the following way:
- Review the module overview and learning outcomes: Use the overview and learning outcomes to identify how the module fits into your course, training programme or existing curriculum.
- Select the relevant guidebook sections: The guidebook can be used as core reading material, supplementary reading or background material for selected topics. Specific sections may be assigned for independent study before or after classroom sessions.
- Use the presentation slides for teaching: The accompanying slides can support lectures, seminars and guided discussions. They may be used as provided or adapted to the local curriculum and teaching format.
- Integrate the question bank into teaching and assessment: The question bank contains questions developed from the module materials. Educators may use them for classroom discussion, formative assessment, self-check activities or integration into local LMS-based tests.
- Use the practical exercise for applied learning: The practical exercise can support classroom work, group activities, homework assignments or project-based learning. It focuses on the comparison and assessment of heat production options for district heating systems.
- Use the case studies for applied discussion: The case-study resources can support discussion of renewable heat production, waste heat recovery, heat pump integration, CHP applications and decision-making in district heating contexts.
For independent learners
Students and professionals using the module independently may follow the sequence below:
- Review the introductory materials: Familiarise yourself with the main concepts, terminology and structure of heat production in district heating systems.
- Study the guidebook materials: Read the explanations of renewable heat production, biomass, biogas, solar thermal systems, geothermal energy, waste heat recovery, heat pumps, CHP and economic and environmental assessment.
- Review the presentation slides: Use the slides to consolidate the main technical concepts, examples and system integration options.
- Watch the module video: Use the short supporting video as an orientation to one selected topic, concept or practical aspect of the module.
- Complete the self-check quiz: Test your understanding of key heat production concepts, renewable energy sources, waste heat recovery, heat pumps and CHP.
- Attempt the practical exercise: Apply the acquired knowledge by comparing heat production technologies and assessing their suitability for district heating applications.
- Review the case-study materials: Explore how different heat production solutions can be applied in real or realistic district heating contexts.
5. Learning materials
This section contains the reusable teaching and learning resources related to the module. The materials are primarily designed to support educators and trainers in integrating heat production topics into higher education and professional training activities. They may also be used for guided or independent learning.
5.1 Guidebook
The guidebook contains the theoretical background, technical explanations, technology descriptions, examples and assessment-oriented content covered in the module. It is intended as the core teaching resource of the module and may be used as background reading, assigned self-study material or a reference document for lectures, exercises and case-study work.
Resources
- 👁️ View online
- ⬇️ Download PDF
5.2 Presentation slides
The presentation slides are provided as separate thematic slide decks, following the main technical sections of the module. This structure allows educators and trainers to use the materials flexibly, either as a complete sequence or as selected slide sets adapted to the focus, level and duration of their teaching activity.
The slide decks are based on the technical materials developed by the SHaKE partner institutions and are organised according to the structure of the Module 3 guidebook.
Module 3.1 – Renewable heat production
This slide deck introduces renewable and low-carbon heat production options for district heating systems. It covers municipal primary energy supply, solid fuel assessment, biomass combustion, energy recovery from waste, biogas production, landfill gas, solar district heating, geothermal district heating and selected Hungarian case examples.
Resources
- 👁️ View slides
- ⬇️ Download PDF
Module 3.2 – Waste heat utilisation and heat pumps
This slide deck focuses on waste heat sources, waste heat classification, heat recovery technologies and heat pump applications in district heating. It covers passive and active waste heat recovery, heat exchangers, waste heat revalorisation, thermodynamic principles of heat pumps, heat pump technologies, heat pump configurations, waste heat upgrading and selected urban waste heat sources such as data centres, subway tunnels and sewer networks.
Resources
- 👁️ View slides
- ⬇️ Download PDF
Module 3.3 – Combined heat and power
This slide deck introduces combined heat and power systems and their integration into district heating networks. It covers CHP principles, topping and bottoming cycles, CHP technologies, operating modes, integration into district heating networks, system advantages, operational challenges, efficiency aspects and environmental considerations.
Resources
- 👁️ View slides
- ⬇️ Download PDF
Module 3.4 – Economic and environmental assessment
This slide deck presents the main economic and environmental aspects of heat production in district heating systems. It covers district heating demand, CAPEX, OPEX, levelised cost of heat, return on investment, payback period, comparative cost analysis, greenhouse gas emissions, lifecycle assessment, market trends, policy instruments and future energy transition considerations.
Resources
- 👁️ View slides
- ⬇️ Download PDF
5.3 Practical exercise and case studies: Heat production options for district heating
The module includes practical and case-study activities in which learners compare and assess different heat production options for district heating systems. The activities support applied engineering reasoning and help learners reflect on the suitability of renewable heat sources, waste heat recovery, heat pumps and CHP under different technical, economic and environmental conditions.
The practical exercise focuses on the assessment of heat production options, while the case-study materials support the analysis of practical applications of renewable and low-carbon heat production in district heating contexts. These may include examples related to biomass CHP, geothermal district heating, solar district heating, biogas utilisation, landfill gas, waste heat recovery or heat pump integration.
The activities can be used for individual work, pair work, group discussion, homework assignments, short technical reports or classroom presentations.
Resources
5.4 Question bank and answer key
The module includes a reusable question bank based on the self-check and assessment questions developed from the module materials. The resource is intended to support adaptation and reuse in higher education teaching, blended learning activities and local assessment practices.
The question bank includes:
- multiple-choice questions;
- questions organised by module topic;
- items that may be used for self-check activities, classroom discussion, formative assessment or adaptation into local LMS-based quizzes;
- suggested answers or answer key to support educators and independent learners.
Resources
5.5 Module video
The module video provides a short visual introduction to one selected topic, concept or practical aspect of the module. It is designed to support the use of the written learning materials, presentation slides and related learning activities.
The video can be used by educators as part of a lecture, blended learning activity or classroom discussion, and by learners as an additional resource for guided or independent study.
Resources
- 🎥 Module video
5.6 Self-check quiz
The self-check quiz allows learners to evaluate their understanding of the main concepts and engineering principles presented in the module. Educators may also use it as a model for formative assessment or adapt the related question bank for their own teaching context.
The quiz includes questions related to:
- renewable heat production in district heating;
- biomass, biogas and landfill gas;
- solar district heating;
- geothermal district heating;
- waste heat utilisation;
- heat exchangers and heat pumps;
- combined heat and power;
- economic and environmental assessment of heat production systems.
Resources
6. Practical application
The module focuses on applied decision-making in heat production for district heating systems. The presented concepts, examples and exercises are intended to support both conceptual understanding and practical system analysis.
Practical topics covered in the module include:
- identifying suitable local heat sources for district heating systems;
- comparing renewable and low-carbon heat production options;
- evaluating biomass, biogas, solar thermal and geothermal heat sources;
- assessing waste heat recovery opportunities;
- selecting suitable heat pump configurations for waste heat upgrading;
- analysing CHP integration in district heating networks;
- considering technical, economic and environmental criteria in technology selection;
- comparing CAPEX, OPEX, LCOH, payback period and lifecycle impacts;
- preparing short technical recommendations for heat production strategies.
The materials are intended not only for individual learning, but also for adaptation and reuse in higher education teaching and professional training activities.
8. Feedback
Educators, trainers and learners are invited to provide feedback on the module and its potential use in higher education and professional training contexts.
Feedback may address:
- clarity and usability of the materials;
- relevance of the engineering content;
- applicability in teaching and training activities;
- suitability for independent or blended learning;
- possibilities for integration into existing courses and educational programmes;
- usefulness of the practical exercise and case-study materials;
- relevance of the examples for local or national district heating contexts.
Resources