On October 23, a study on the use of biomass in the Šaleška Valley was presented to the members of the Project Council for the Transformation of the Šaleška Valley District Heating System. The study, written as part of the 3DIVERSE project, represents a significant contribution and will play a crucial role in the decision-making process for the system’s transformation, as part of the broader transformation of the Šaleška Valley.
Janez Ramšak, Technical Director of Komunalno podjetje Velenje, a partner in the 3DIVERSE project, opened the presentation by introducing the expert team that prepared this comprehensive and in-depth study.
Prof. Dr Andrej Kitanovski from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana presented a detailed analysis of the district heating system’s peak capacities in the Šaleška Valley for the year 2022, along with forecasts for 2032. He highlighted that these capacities have significantly decreased over the past two years since the preparation of the project’s foundational document, the Action Plan. The study suggests that energy sources for district heating should be diversified, with biomass serving as a supplementary source to balance waste heat, heat pumps, geothermal energy, and other sustainable sources. He also emphasised the need to support the development and investment attractiveness of other sustainable sources and to verify the actual availability of resources.
Klemen Peter Kosovinc from Kolektor SETup presented the results of simulations on integrating renewable energy sources into the district heating system. Following the Action Plan, various scenarios for the phased integration of biomass boilers and combined heat and power units into the district heating system of the Šaleška Valley were simulated, covering both the Velenje and Šoštanj branches. The primary fuel for these units is planned to be wood biomass chips. The optimal configuration and sizing of energy sources were determined through a detailed analysis of four scenarios, including the Velenje and Šoštanj heating branches, the optimal sizes of energy units, and variations in electricity prices.
Following an extensive discussion and thorough explanations from representatives of the 3DIVERSE project, including experts from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Kolektor Setup, the Project Council members agreed to continue working in line with the updated Action Plan.
