BM Retrofit is dedicated to the development and demonstration of holistic modernisation concepts and the expansion of existing biomass-based district heating networks and systems.
Biomass-based district heating networks and systems play a central role in sustainable heat supply and comprise around 2,400 systems in operation in Austria. Currently, there is an increased need for retrofitting and modernisation in many operating heating networks in order to meet future technical, economic and regulatory challenges as well as a sustainable and targeted expansion.
In BM Retrofit, innovative technical concepts (e.g. flue gas condensation, heat pumps, storage technologies) are developed accordingly and optimised for efficient system integration (Technology Readiness Level TRL: 6-8). Due to the applied holistic methodology in combination with the demonstration, especially the indicators SRL (System Readiness Level) from 4 to 6 and MRL (Market Readiness Level) from 4 to 7 are raised and addressed accordingly. This will ensure that innovative measures are further improved and integrated, leading to more sustainable and economic operation in combination with reduced resource consumption and emission savings.
The holistic systemic approach envisaged in BM Retrofit results in high synergy potentials to a) adapt and further develop existing heating networks to future requirements, b) achieve set climate targets and c) strengthen economic benefits including local value creation. However, system integration in combination with comprehensive involvement of relevant actors coupled with the expansion of services and business models is currently not applied in practice when developing modernisation concepts and thus the existing potentials are not fully exploited.
Funding tool
BM Retrofit is being carried out/implemented in conjunction with the Green Energy Lab research initiative and supported with the funds from the Climate and Energy Fund and implemented in the framework of the RTI-initiative “Flagship region Energy”.
