Correlation analysis for district heating tariff benchmarking model

The overall objective of this study is to create a benchmark model for setting district heating (DH) tariffs. The analysis covered the group of 12 largest DH companies in Latvia, and correlation analysis included the parameters characterizing the DH systems such as influence of cogeneration (CHP), fuel mix, utilisation of installed generation capacity, network heat load density, components of tariffs and most significant groups of the fixed costs. The analysis resulted in correlations found between the intensity of use of DH networks and the transmission and distribution tariff, as well as between the proportion of gas in the fuel mix and OPEX. No previously expected correlations were found between specific parameters and CAPEX, however, the potential direction for further research was marked. A significant result is the observation of a close correlation between the influence of CHP and the generation tariff.