Danish District Heating Association

About Danish District Heating Association

Danish District Heating Association (DDHA) was founded in 1957 with the aim of organizing Danish district heating companies; facilitate cooperation between these members; and promote their interests towards authorities and other organizations, both nationally and globally. Today, the association holds 60 employees located in Kolding and Copenhagen. Of the around 350 members of DDHA, the largest district heating companies are owned by Danish municipalities. The municipally-owned utilities deliver around two thirds of all district heating. The remaining district heating companies are predominantly consumer owned cooperatives. Nearly 2 million households (68 pct.) are supplied with district heating by DDHA’s members, covering around half the demand for space heating in all buildings. The goal is to supply 75 pct. of Danish households with district heating. Due to the volume of households supplied by district heating, it is considered a low-cost heating solution. District heating is a transmission system that can be connected to all forms of heat production. Currently, district heating is produced from sources which include: waste, wood chips, straw, wind, solar heating, geothermal energy, natural gas, oil, coal and surplus heat from industry. There is a total of approx. 60,000 km of district heating network piping - 30,000 km inlet and 30,000 km outgoing and it contains about a billion litres of hot water. District heating is regulated by a principle of non-profit and, consequently, DDHA is financed by member’s fees, which are calculated on the basis of member’s heat sales. In addition, DDHA handles publishing and projects and hosts several events including regional and national meetings, conferences, project days etc. This is both an important part of DDHA’s services to their members as well as an additional income source.