Research for more efficient sustainable heating

District heating is one of the most sustainable and cost-effective methods of heating today. This is because it, to a large extent, reuses heat energy that would otherwise go wasted. Examples of such energy sources include excess heat from industries and combustion of domestic waste. However, such energy waste is expected to decrease in the future, both in quantity and content. This would leave district heating utilities with little room for any energy inefficiency, if they do not want to compromise their client’s comfort. Thus, the challenge is to make the current district heating networks more energy efficient, and this is where Shiraz Farouq's research can make a difference.

Collected data creates a pattern

Today, ineffective and incorrect behaviour of substations in district heating networks leads to substantial energy losses. Shiraz Farouq, a doctoral student at the School of Information Technology, has developed models for detecting such substations by identifying various patterns using state-of-the-art statistical and machine learning algorithms. One of these models is based on the idea of collective monitoring, where the behaviour of each substation in a network is tracked by a group of other similar substations. Any substation that does not behave in accordance with its tracking group provides a basis to believe that something is wrong.

Shiraz Farouq's research will hopefully lead to more efficient ways of using district heating by quickly detecting energy inefficient substations. This contributes to increased sustainability, cost efficiency and the development of future smart cities. In that context, the research has a positive impact on the environment, economy and the society.

“My research will enable district heating utilities to use their renewable energy sources efficiently”, says Shiraz Farouq.