District heating
District heating based on renewable energy is the most convenient and environmentally friendly heating method in an urban environment that ensures year-round heating service and cleaner air in the cities.
Benefits of district heating
Easy
to use
District heating is easy to use – clients do not have to worry about maintenance, buying fuel, or setting up boilers.
Small
footprint
Most of the heat consumed by Utilitas’ clients is produced from renewable, local sources such as low-value biomass.
Always
available
Thanks to Utilitas’ modern heating network and heating sources, consumers can be sure that their water and radiators will be warm whenever needed.
Future-
proof
Innovative heat production technologies can be added to the district heating network, which ensures the sustainability and reliability of the district heating also in for the future.
The most preferred heating method
District heating is the most common type of heating in Estonia. Its share in the heat supply is at least 60%. In Estonia, heat is consumed for at least eight months of the year, and at twice the volume of electricity. District heating is also the preferred choice in Nordic cities – in Copenhagen, over 95% of buildings use district heating, in Helsinki over 90%, and in Stockholm over 70%.
Our district heating clients
District heating is the most common type of heating in Estonia, its share in the heat supply reaches at least 60%, while a third of all district heating users in Estonia are clients of Utilitas.
66%
residential
buildings
20%
business
clients
14%
governmental and
municipal institutions
All Utilitas clients are connected to a convenient remote-reading system
Thanks to this, clients can always monitor their heat consumption via e-service portal and compare it with other similar buildings. The data helps Utilitas ensure the uninterrupted operation of the heating network.
Utilitas district heating systems can be recognized by their efficient district heating label
All Utilitas district heating systems are efficient as per European Union Energy Efficiency Directive 2012/27/EU. A district heating network is efficient if it uses at least 50% renewable energy, 50% waste heat, 75% cogenerated heat, or 50% of a combination of such energy and heat.
The journey of district heating to the building
- A boiler house or cogeneration plant produces heat, which is used to heat buildings and the domestic water of consumers.
- Hot water is pumped through the pipeline from the boiler house to the heating substation of the client’s building.
- Hot water supplies heat through heat exchangers to radiators and/or underfloor heating and heats domestic water.
- Once the water has given away its heat, it then returns to the boiler house or cogeneration plant, where it is reheated.
Joining district heating
Every new building or building that has previously used another heating method and is located near the district heating network can be connected to the Utilitas district heating service.
If the district heating network is further away from your building, Utilitas joining the network may still be an option, the interest of potential clients is an important input for our network expansion plans.
Ask for additional information on connecting to district heatingThe process of connecting to the district heating service
The potential client is interested in the district heating service and contacts Utilitas.
We discuss the possibilities of joining, and sign an agreement.
A heating pipeline is designed and built.
A heating substation and a heat meter are designed and installed in the building.
The client signs a purchase-sale agreement for heat supply and starts using the district heating service from Utilitas.
District heating by Utilitas in Estonian cities
69%
share of renewable energy and waste heat
18 390 000 m²
area of heated buildings
4792
heated buildings
520 km
of district heating networks
95%
share of renewable energy
333 000 m²
area of heated buildings
160
heated buildings
14 km
of district heating networks
73%
taastuvenergia osakaal
398 000 m²
köetavate hoonete pindala
231
soojust tarbivat hoonet
21 km
kaugküttevõrku
100%
share of renewable energy
81 000 m²
area of heated buildings
57
heated buildings
6 km
of district heating networks
95%
share of renewable energy
207 000 m²
area of heated buildings
103
heated buildings
13 km
of district heating networks
82%
share of renewable energy
203 000 m²
area of heated buildings
87
heated buildings
9 km
of district heating networks
94%
share of renewable energy
381 000 m²
area of heated buildings
195
heated buildings
19 km
of district heating networks
99%
share of renewable energy
398 000 m²
area of heated buildings
226
heated buildings
20 km
of district heating networks
