Center Denmark will provide data infrastructure for new technology that automatically detects faults in district heating installations

More Than Half of District Heating Installations Have Faults

The D4Heat project addresses a significant challenge in the district heating sector: many district heating installations in private homes are not functioning optimally, leading to energy waste and unnecessary costs. A sample study reveals that more than half of these installations have faults, potentially resulting in millions of kroner in lost energy annually.

The goal of D4Heat is to make fault detection both faster and more accurate. The project aims to automatically analyze data from heat meters and fault reports, enabling fault identification and resolution without the need for technicians to manually inspect each installation. "By identifying faults automatically, heating utilities gain better opportunities to optimize operations and lower operating temperatures, which can significantly reduce energy loss," explains Christina Kjær Langeland from the Danish Technological Institute, leading the project.

Center Denmark's Role: Making Data Accessible and Usable

Center Denmark is responsible for creating the digital infrastructure required to share and access the data essential to the project. This involves importing heat meter data, developing generic data models, and ensuring access to training datasets that combine heat meter data with high-frequency measurements and fault reports. The objective is to deliver high-quality data that can be used to develop algorithms and tools for fault detection.

Through the use of generic data models, the D4Heat project can establish a systematic approach to fault detection, adaptable to various types of district heating systems. This approach enables quick and precise problem identification, reducing energy loss and maintenance costs.

Significant Potential in Collaboration

The D4Heat project, running until July 2027, is supported by the Danish Energy Agency's EUDP program and involves partners such as Aalborg University, Kamstrup A/S, and several district heating companies, including Aalborg Forsyning and Frederiksberg Fjernvarme. The collaboration will result in open-source tools and training datasets for use by district heating utilities and research institutions.

By making data accessible and streamlining fault detection, the project aims to contribute to a more stable and cost-efficient district heating operation in Denmark.