Generation-based criteria defined within the COST Action

The differentiation of DHC generations is related to the type of geothermal source used and its characteristics in terms of temperature and depth. Heating networks can be divided into 5 generations, while cooling networks are included in this categorization only from generation 4. According to the picture above:
·       Generation 1 DH refers to the 1^st generation of heating networks based on hot steam with high supply temperatures;
·       Generation 2 DH refers to heating networks based on hot water with relatively high supply temperatures (>90ºC);
·       Generation 3 DH refers to heating networks based on hot water with medium-high supply temperatures (<60ºC);
·       Generation 4 DHC refers to heating networks based on low temperature water (<60ºC), it can also provide space cooling services;
·       Generation 5 DHC refers to state of the art heating and cooling networks based on low temperature geothermal sources (ambient geothermal).