District heating and cooling for buildings

  • Overview
  • Related products
  • Tools and apps
  • Case studies
  • News

Use of district heating equals higher individual comfort and energy efficiency

The basic principles behind district energy are remarkably simple. At one end of the network is an energy source (often a multi-fuel CHP plant). Heat is then distributed via a network of insulated pipes to residential, commercial and industrial buildings across the city.

At the end-user level, individual buildings are connected to the district heating network. In the building a substation with heat exchangers and various control components efficiently transfer hot water for room heating and domestic hot water (DHW) purposes into a building’s HVAC and DHW systems.

Choosing the right heat distribution system for a building (or network) is influenced by three main criteria:

  1. technical connection specifications;
  2. heat requirements of the building; 
  3. comfort preferences of the building’s occupants.

The more accurately you can balance those needs, the better the service you will provide to your end-users and the more energy efficiency you will achieve. Both of these factors are good for your business.

At Danfoss, we develop and produce all  major components for our substations and flat stations in-house. Because we manufacture the key components ourselves, you will benefit from optimized heat transfer and system control performance. Pressure, differential pressure, temperature and flow are integrated and automatically controlled on nearly all Danfoss substations.

Controllers without auxiliary power, electronic controllers, motorized control valves and energy meters ensure maximum comfort and energy efficiency. They also enable integration into higher-level control and monitoring systems.

How we can help you

Wide product portfolio from flat stations to large site-specific heat transfer units and extensive range of control components

Consultancy and customer dedication, years of experience in buildings and maintaining district energy network

Innovation, technical optimization and performance

Safety and reliability in cooperation, expertise through the entire delivery chain of district energy

Global reach with strong local representation and know-how

Experience with all types of initial energy sources

What are the benefits of district heating and cooling for buildings?

View animation

Related products

  • if (isSmallPicture) { Brazed heat exchangers- Danfoss; } else if (isBigColumns) { Brazed heat exchangers- Danfoss } else { Brazed heat exchangers- Danfoss }
    Brazed plate heat exchangers

    The performance of the Brazed Plate Heat Exchanger (BPHE) has been proven through 30 years of constant development, ensuring unparalleled efficiency for all applications.

  • if (isSmallPicture) { MCV Family; } else if (isBigColumns) { MCV Family } else { MCV Family }
    Motorised control valves and actuators

    Motorised control valves ensure perfect control and efficiency for every building and application. Danfoss Motorised Control Valves (MCV) for district heating and cooling, HVAC and central heating systems ensure stable and accurate control of water, glycol mixtures and steam.

  • if (isSmallPicture) { Differential pressure, flow and temperature controllers- Danfoss; } else if (isBigColumns) { Differential pressure, flow and temperature controllers- Danfoss } else { Differential pressure, flow and temperature controllers- Danfoss }
    Differential pressure, flow and temperature controllers

    Balance your network, save energy and improve end-user comfort by hydronic balancing and control of district energy networks. Optimal hydronic balance and perfect temperature control are the key to maximizing the efficiency of heating or cooling networks.

  • if (isSmallPicture) { Self-acting temperature controllers- Danfoss; } else if (isBigColumns) { Self-acting temperature controllers- Danfoss } else { Self-acting temperature controllers- Danfoss }
    Self-acting temperature controllers

    Thermostatic temperature controllers are used to control the flow temperature in instantaneous/storage domestic hot water and heating systems. In multi-family houses and commercial buildings, they are used for hot water systems and for return temperature limitation in district heating applications.

  • if (isSmallPicture) { Butterfly valve SBFV WW DN600_L; } else if (isBigColumns) { Butterfly valve SBFV WW DN600_L } else { Butterfly valve SBFV WW DN600_L }
    Butterfly valves

    Butterfly valves are the components that provide on/off regulation of the district heating, HVAC or water applications where limited space is available for components.

Tools and apps

Heat Selector

Danfoss Heat Selector is the best-in-class online selection tool that optimizes the planning process for heating application experts.

Open Heat Selector

Case studies

  • if (isSmallPicture) { City of Banja Luka; } else if (isBigColumns) { City of Banja Luka } else { City of Banja Luka }
    Danfoss partners with the city of Banja Luka to decarbonize district energy

    The Challenge: Renovate 34 of the city’s largest heating substations
    The Solution: Danfoss Leanheat® Monitor enables full substation digitalization
    The Results: reduced heat consumption by 10%

  • if (isSmallPicture) { Eurasburg; } else if (isBigColumns) { Eurasburg } else { Eurasburg }
    Successful transition from oil boilers to a local heating network in Eurasburg

    In the Wittelsbacher Land near Augsburg the local network in Eurasburg supplies heat to 80 buildings using a wood chip heating system. Danfoss’ substations ensure efficient heating in all building types, and its modern SCADA solution enables remote system monitoring and management. 

  • if (isSmallPicture) { ; } else if (isBigColumns) { } else { }
    Intelligent optimisation of district energy in new residential apartments

    Two new build apartments in Docklands, London and Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire have been equipped with intelligent Danfoss solutions, bringing increased control and stability as well as greater than 20% peak energy reduction.

  • if (isSmallPicture) { In Helsinki a total of 667 addresses in a mix of large and small buildings and apartments have had the Leanheat software installed.; } else if (isBigColumns) { In Helsinki a total of 667 addresses in a mix of large and small buildings and apartments have had the Leanheat software installed. } else { In Helsinki a total of 667 addresses in a mix of large and small buildings and apartments have had the Leanheat software installed. }
    Leanheat makes buildings smart

    In Europe, 30 percent of all energy consumption goes to heat or cool buildings. Danfoss has the solution to lower energy usage and improve indoor climate by adding a digital element: Leanheat software.

  • if (isSmallPicture) { A cost-effective solution: district cooling in central Copenhagen; } else if (isBigColumns) { A cost-effective solution: district cooling in central Copenhagen } else { A cost-effective solution: district cooling in central Copenhagen }
    A cost-effective solution: district cooling in central Copenhagen

    Energy efficiency was a major consideration in the design of Copenhagen’s district cooling project, where VLT® drives contribute to reducing CO2 emissions by more than 3000 t annually.

  • if (isSmallPicture) { Solar heating plant reduces CO2 emissions by 15,700 tonnes annually; } else if (isBigColumns) { Solar heating plant reduces CO2 emissions by 15,700 tonnes annually } else { Solar heating plant reduces CO2 emissions by 15,700 tonnes annually }
    Solar heating plant reduces CO2 emissions by 15,700 tonnes annually

    The world’s largest solar heating plant in Silkeborg, Denmark harnesses energy to heat the homes and workplaces of 40,000 citizens. It supplies 18-20% of the annual heat consumption in the city of Silkeborg, Denmark, which has an ambitious target of CO2 neutrality in heat production by the year 2030.

Explore more

News