INVESTMENT ANALYSIS OF DISTRICT HEATING - AN APPLICATION TO THE ANTWERP AGGLOMERATION.

This study gives an evaluation of the rentability of district heating with combined production for the Antwerp agglomeration different production sites, i. e. the nuclear power-station of Doel and two fossil-fuel-fired power-stations. The analysis is made under different hypothesis of future fuel prices, penetration patterns of demand and actualization rates. It turns out that production from the nuclear plant would be an inferior choice. This is caused by the larger distance from the service area involving higher transportation investments and pump costs. Furthermore, in this case, limitations in temperature and pressure cause extra investments in back-pressure units and heat exchangers while conversion is less efficient.