HRE makes it evident that by 2050:
– CO2 emissions can be reduced by 4.340 Mton or 86% compared to 1990 using only known technology in the heating and cooling sector. This is in line with the Paris Agreement and approaches a nearly zero carbon energy system.
– By redesigning the heating and cooling sector the total costs of decarbonisation can be reduced by 6% annually compared to conventional methods.
– The use of fossil fuels in HRE can be reduced by almost 10.400 TWh in 2050 compared to the 2015 reference. The amount of natural gas decreases in HRE 2050 by about 87% compared to the 2015 reference, the remainder only being used in industry and flexible combined heat and power.
– Natural gas and inefficient electric heating in buildings can be phased out. Such solutions can be replaced by a combination of refurbishment and end use savings, individual heat pumps and district heating using excess heat and heat from renewable sources.
– The solutions proposed are in line with the Smart Energy System approach enabling a conversion towards 100% renewable energy
