BIG Solar Graz: Solar District Heating in Graz – 500,000 m2 for 20% Solar Fraction

A large-scale solar thermal system with seasonal storage and heat pumps could provide 9 to 26% of Graz's district heating demand, covering up to 500,000 m². This feasibility study by Reiter et al. (2016) evaluates the integration potential of such a system into Graz's future district heating network, replacing fossil-fuel-based heat production. The research uses dynamic simulation and economic analysis to determine optimal system size, with preliminary results indicating feasibility compared to gas boilers. The study also examines legal and technical constraints while ongoing simulations aim for further optimization.

Reiter, P., Poier, H., & Holter, C. (2016). BIG Solar Graz: Solar District Heating in Graz – 500,000 m2 for 20% Solar Fraction. Energy Procedia, 91, 578–584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2016.06.204