Feasibility and Economic Analysis of a Renewable Energy-based Hybrid District Heating System

District heating system is one of the established technologies implemented in many countries successfully, but their application and feasibility have not been explored in India. This study aims to explore the possible application of renewable energy-based hybrid district heating systems (ReHDHS) in the North India region which is one of the suitable regions from an environmental point of view. The present work is performed in three phases, first identified the suitable area for the ReHDHS. The Banjar area (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), situated in the northern Himalayas, has been selected for the investigation as this is renowned from a tourism perspective due to the abundance of hotels, resorts, and cottages. A survey was conducted in this region among individuals operating commercial properties and residing in homes etc. to understand the requirements for heat in both residences and hotels. Secondly, different renewable energy sources (solar, biomass, wind, and geothermal energy) available for the selected region are explored which have the potential to generate clean and sustainable energy. It observed that solar and biomass together have the potential to fulfil the current requirement. In the third stage, the technical and economic feasibility of these technologies is assessed. This study analyses the economically feasible varieties of solar water heaters and biomass plants implemented in northern India. The paper comes to a conclusion on the amount of heat that will be needed for a particular site in northern India, as well as the upfront approximate costs of a Hybrid District Heating System, which can provide clean energy, power, and new infrastructure.