The European Commission’s AccelerateEU Communication calls for more district heating and cooling networks to foster electrification and cut gas consumption through the integration of renewable and recovered heat. The Commission should now translate this recognition into concrete supporting instruments and publish, without further delay, the revised EU Heating and Cooling Strategy.

District heating and cooling: a ready-to-scale emergency response

The Communication identifies district heating and cooling networks as critical infrastructure for electrification and flexibility, through large heat pumps, electric boilers and thermal storage. It also highlights the role of geothermal, solar thermal and waste heat in supplying these networks, reinforcing their function as multi-source, resilient energy systems.

Across Europe, district heating and cooling networks already integrate on average 44.1% renewable and recovered heat. With at least 650 TWh of renewable and waste heat available for immediate use, scaling up and modernising DHC networks can deliver price shielding for connected consumers within months, while providing a structural pathway to phase out fossil fuel dependency, as highlighted in the 2023 study Heat Matters: The Missing Link in REPowerEU.

From recognition to delivery: the role of the Heating and Cooling Strategy

While the Communication strengthens the positioning of district heating and cooling within Europe’s energy system, it does not yet provide the concrete measures required to accelerate deployment. A dedicated EU Heating and Cooling Strategy can help cities, investors and system operators scale up district heating and cooling across Europe.

AccelerateEU recognises district heating as a strategic infrastructure, delivery must now follow