Gebwell G-Power® substation installation manual
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1.
District heating in general
District heating is the most popular form of heating in Finland. It is used in nearly all cities and urban areas.
Some 2.7 million Finns live in houses with district heating. District heating accounts for around 50% of the
heating market. District heating is used in more than 95% of multi-storey residential buildings and the
majority of public and commercial buildings in Finland.
District heating is produced in each area with the most inexpensive fuels. Natural gas provides the main
fuel for district heating where it is available, whereas the largest coastal cities use coal and the peat areas
primarily use peat.
District heating is available throughout the year, 24 hours a day. Moreover, the temperature of the hot water
produced with district heating remains even, constant and plentiful.
District heating keeps the environment clean and adds to the comfort of living. District heating also saves
energy and is environmentally friendly. Optimal savings are achieved through combined heat and
electricity production, which has a fuel efficiency of 80 to 90%. When electricity is produced separately,
only 40 to 50% of the fuel’s energy can be utilised. Due to the efficiency of combined production, the
environmental emissions remain approximately 30% lower than in the separate production of electricity
and heat (source: Finnish Energy).