Integration of renewable sources in district heating: analysis of the Turin network and evaluation of temperature reduction scenarios

District heating (DH) networks are increasingly recognized as a key technology for decarbonizing the heating sector in Europe. In Italy, the city of Turin hosts one of the largest and most developed DH systems in the country, mainly based on combined heat and power (CHP) plants using natural gas. However, to meet the European Union’s climate neutrality goals and enhance energy security, the integration of renewable energy sources (RES) and waste heat into district heating systems is becoming essential. This thesis analyses the current operation of the Turin DH network with a specific focus on the behaviour of its thermal energy storage units under different operating conditions. Based on real data provided by IREN, the utility managing the network, the study investigates the impact of varying supply temperature scenarios (120 °C, 105 °C and 90 °C) on the storages and on the overall flexibility of the system. The results highlight how reducing the supply temperature affects the storage utilization and the potential of the network to accommodate renewable and low-temperature heat sources. The analysis provides insights into the technical challenges and opportunities associated with the energy transition of large-scale DH systems such as Turin’s.