Environmental comparison of district heating from wood and waste

A district heating system can supply local populations with energy in form of heat, used for space heating in the cold season, or hot/cold water necessary year round. Also, the possibility of combining district heating with combined-heat-power plants exists, allowing the simultaneous production of thermal and electric energy. This type of generated energy can be both low-carbon and cost-effective. In the present paper some aspects related to an analysis of district heating systems fueled with biomass/waste is carried out for two locations. One relevant result concern the environmental performances of the two systems; indeed the evolution of the waste burning sector (with off gas treatment) allow emission factors even more favorable than wood combustion.