Method for Controlling a Steam Network and Steam Network

A steam network comprising a plurality of sub-networks, wherein each sub-network is connected with a respective external steam generating source that provides the respective sub-network with steam at a respective internal steam pressure, wherein the respective internal steam pressure is different for each sub-network, the steam network further comprising a plurality of steam consumers, each steam consumer supplied with steam by a respective sub-network, the steam network further comprising at least one inter-network valve for interconnecting a respective pair of the plurality of sub-networks, the steam network further comprising a control apparatus configured a) for measuring steam consumption data of each sub-network, b) for predicting a future steam consumption rate of each sub-network based on the measured steam consumption data of each sub-network for controlling the at least one inter-network valve for providing steam from a sub-network with higher internal steam pressure to a sub-network with lower internal steam pressure based on the predicted future steam consumption rates, wherein the rate at which steam is produced by the external steam generating sources is not controlled by the control apparatus.