Planning of community heating systems modernization and development

New approach to community heating systems modernization and development planning process has been proposed. It is based on the general decision making aid algorithm. The proposed algorithm takes into account both demand and supply side of community heat market modernization and development.The first step of algorithm – analytical step, refers to data base creation, which is needed for the description of community heating system energy, ecology and economic characteristics. Analysis of those characteristics allows for the identification of heating system market modernization and development potential scenarios.The second algorithm step – decision step, allows for the identification of the most compromise scenarios of system modernization and development. To make the planning process more transparent and to increase the influence of decision makers on the planning process the ELECTRE III method was chosen as the tool of decision aid. The ELECTRE III method is based on the construction of outranking relation and definition of pseudo-criterion. The iteration mode of method application allows the decision maker and analyst for the investigation of the sensitivity of final solution to the changing preference model.One of the methods of statistics – the creditability of mean range method was used for the determination of initial definition of pseudo-criterion.Proposed algorithm and decision aid method were employed for the case study analysis referring to the choice of the heating system for new developing urban area.