Conceptual Dataspace Architecture for District Heating Use Case

Abstract

Low-temperature district heating networks require accurate demand forecasts and active load control to operate efficiently with reduced supply temperatures and high shares of renewable heat. In practice, however, district heating operators have limited access to real-time data from customer substations and buildings due to privacy concerns, data silos, and lack of interoperability. As a result, operators must apply large safety margins, leading to higher losses and reduced overall system efficiency. This paper proposes a conceptual dataspace architecture based on IDSA-compliant components, the Eclipse Dataspace Components (EDC) together with N5GEH, a FIWARE-based IoT platform. The approach enables building owners to securely share selected substation data under strict usage policies, supporting improved forecasting and demand response while maintaining full data sovereignty.