Scaling up district heating and cooling for a secure, decarbonised and competitive Europe
Almost 10 years ago, the European Commission published its first Heating and Cooling Strategy. Since then, the EU energy system has changed. It has taken on the direction of full decarbonisation with the 2050 climate neutrality in mind and the intermediary renewables and energy efficiency targets of 2030, and potentially 2040, in view. The trajectory’s urgency has been further underlined by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, laying bare the EU’s dependence on imported fossil fuels.
The 2016 strategy was relatively shy on tackling heating and cooling hands on as part of the EU’s energy system, limiting itself to a sector-specific focus. Meanwhile, the weight and, hence, decarbonisation potential of the sector remains crucial, considering it accounts for half of Europe’s energy use and 27% of CO2 emissions. With our energy fundamentals changed, it is time for a strategy update!
The upcoming 2026 Heating and Cooling Strategy holds the key to prepare our heating and cooling system for the future. District heating and cooling networks will play a big part in the transition. To be precise, for the full decarbonisation to happen, Aalborg University recommends a 55% DHC market share by 2050.
The potential of DHC networks to offer greater flexibility to the energy system and provide affordable and clean heating as well as cooling to homes and industries, will be needed to address the imperatives that the energy sector faces today: climate-neutrality, competitiveness, affordability and security.
Agenda:
- 14:00–14:05 Welcome and introduction, Luca Neumann, Euroheat & Power
- 14:05–14:15 Keynote, KEYNOTE, Margot Pinault, European Commission
- 14:15–14:20 Policy Asks presentation
- 14:20–14:25 Industry insight I, Gaia Balzarini, Danfoss
- 14:25–14:30 Industry Insight II, Raphael Schenkel, AGFW
- 14:30–15:00 Panel Discussion
Speakers:
- Margot Pinault, Policy Officer, DG ENER, European Commission
- Gaia Balzarini, Global Industry Affairs Director, Climate solution, Danfoss
- Raphael Schenkel, European Affairs Advisor, AGFW
- Moderated by Luca Neumann, Senior Policy Advisor, Euroheat & Power
