District heating involves the distribution of heat energy to a number of users in the form of reticulated hot water or sometimes steam.  Essentially just a central heating system which has been scaled up, district heating can be found in a few locations around New Zealand, but is unusual outside large public institutions such as hospitals and universities.

In Europe, wood-fired district heating schemes are very common, as communities and businesses have recognised the potential of district heating technology to deliver low cost, sustainable heat for domestic, commercial and industrial users.  Cities like Copenhagen and Helsinki have huge district heating schemes, with around 90% of all the heat in Copenhagen provided in this way.

A district heating scheme is the ideal location for a wood-fired boiler, and both Binder and Hargassner boilers can be found in this application the world over.  Hargassner units, because of their size, are more suited to micro-nets (heating systems with just a few customers), whereas Binder boilers can be tasked with heating whole towns.

District heating schemes offer businesses and communities the chance to realise multiple benefits beyond access to low-cost heating, particularly where they have access to fuel supplies from forestry or waste wood.  Converting this low-value waste wood or forestry material into heat, which can then be sold, is the focus of many community and private enterprises in Europe.  We've provided the links to a few examples below :

Glenshellach Woodfuel District Heating Scheme, Scotland
Dundalk Woodfuel District Heating Scheme, Republic of Ireland
Lienz Woodfuel District Heating Scheme, Austria

And some guidelines on district heating with biomass here.