The collective of organizations, technologies, and regulations centered around the distribution of thermal energy, typically in the form of hot water or steam, from a central source to multiple buildings or end-users. This includes infrastructure construction, system operation and maintenance, and the supply of heating or cooling services. A common example involves a power plant utilizing waste heat to provide warmth to a nearby residential district, thereby improving energy efficiency.
Such systems offer a pathway to decarbonize heating and cooling, particularly in dense urban environments, by facilitating the integration of diverse energy sources, including renewable and recovered heat. Historically, these networks have been crucial in urban planning, addressing air quality concerns, and promoting energy security by diversifying energy supply and reducing reliance on individual building-level combustion.