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Ploiesti – public-private heat network serving
Published on 23 August 2019
Romania
Sud-Muntenia
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About this good practice
In 2004 a PPP contract for 15 years was signed between Dalkia Romania, Ploiesti Municipality and Prahova County Council to create Dalkia Termo Prahova which was appointed as manager of the Ploiesti heating system built in ‘60s and committed to invest 25mil EUR to modernize it. The system included Brazi thermal power plant (10 kms away from Ploiesti), the 62km primary network, the 93km secondary network and 86 secondary heating points. Until 2015 Dalkia Termo Prahova (which changed the name to Veolia) invested 27mil EUR in a new natural gas tur-bine, fully automatic heating points, replacing faulty pipes and increase insulation to reduce losses and to improve the overall effectiveness of the system.
Nowadays Veolia Energie Prahova provides heat and hot water to 57800 apartments (85% of the total in Ploiesti), 100.000 citizens (roughly half of Ploiesti population), over 30 public buildings and about 700 private businesses. The installed thermal power of the system is 3,4 Gcal/hour and the effectiveness of the secondary heating network is 92,3%.
For the future there is an ambitious 100ml+ EUR investment plan for the Ploiesti heating system which runs until 2025 and includes replacing the old mixed power plants (natural gas and coal) with biomass/RES cogeneration combined with modern highly efficient primary/secondary networks and smart metering for the end users.
Nowadays Veolia Energie Prahova provides heat and hot water to 57800 apartments (85% of the total in Ploiesti), 100.000 citizens (roughly half of Ploiesti population), over 30 public buildings and about 700 private businesses. The installed thermal power of the system is 3,4 Gcal/hour and the effectiveness of the secondary heating network is 92,3%.
For the future there is an ambitious 100ml+ EUR investment plan for the Ploiesti heating system which runs until 2025 and includes replacing the old mixed power plants (natural gas and coal) with biomass/RES cogeneration combined with modern highly efficient primary/secondary networks and smart metering for the end users.
Expert opinion
District heating has been widely used throughout Europe since the end of the 1940s, especially in Eastern Europe, initially with coal and oil. Systems have moved on significantly since that time, with old systems in drastic need of updating. This practice demonstrates a successful public-private partnership for upgrading a system from the 1960s to use natural gas (and biomass/cogeneration in future), with a more efficient heat transfer network. Such interventions are often large scale, and this practice demonstrates a successful way forward for other regions also looking to make the transition.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
Financial investment of 27 mil EUR, with another 100 mil EUR needed for further modernisation works, with major national and regional government contributions to match structural funding
Evidence of success
Modernisation of Brazi thermal power plant, improving the insulation of the heating pipes in the primary network and changing secondary/interior pipes and metering system for all the end users (57800 apartments, 100.000 citizens, over 30 public buildings and about 700 private businesses). This will bring all end users onto a system that will reduce carbon production and provide sustainable energy in the future.
Potential for learning or transfer
Outdated central heating systems can be revitalised and modernised to meet existing requirements regarding energy savings, environment impact and energy security.
Central heating is a very efficient way to reduce costs and positively impact the environment;
Upgrading and maintaining an old heating and network system can be costly;
Citizens can be very vulnerable to energy security, and this system provides a more long term answer to energy produced and sourced from neighbouring countries, increasing energy security for residents and businesses.
Central heating is a very efficient way to reduce costs and positively impact the environment;
Upgrading and maintaining an old heating and network system can be costly;
Citizens can be very vulnerable to energy security, and this system provides a more long term answer to energy produced and sourced from neighbouring countries, increasing energy security for residents and businesses.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
AE3R Prahova
Romania
Sud-Muntenia
Contact
External funding Manager