Price-Based Demand-Side Management for District Heating Networks

The TarifFlex project is investigating the practical implementation of dynamic heating tariffs as a means of achieving implicit load flexibility in district heating networks. Whilst flexible tariffs are already well established in the electricity sector, there is currently a lack of tried-and-tested methods for district heating. TarifFlex closes this gap by evaluating theoretical approaches from the literature, adapting them for real-world networks, and implementing them for the first time in a software prototype. The aim is to develop a tool that generates a daily updated price signal (day-ahead) based on operational and cost data and analyses its impact on network operators and customers.

The project identifies the requirements and acceptance criteria of district heating operators for variable tariffs and develops a functional software tool for simulating dynamic pricing models. In addition, the economic effects on operators and consumers are assessed under realistic scenarios. Targeted price control is intended to reduce peak loads, optimise network utilisation and minimise the use of fossil-fuel-fired peak-load boilers. TarifFlex thus lays the foundation for a future demonstration project and contributes to an efficient, resilient and climate-friendly heat supply in Austria.