With 41,3% shares of renewables and climate-neutral heat sources, district heating and cooling networks are a powerful tool to replace fossil-based heating in buildings. They keep warm 67 million EU citizens today, and continue to grow driven by the recent energy crisis.

According to a recent study, expanding district heating and cooling to cover 20% of the EU heat demand by 2030 (compared to 13% today) would save 24 billion cubic meters of gas demand! Most savings are generated by the expansion and modernisation of existing infrastructures (6 bcm) and the phase-in of clean and renewable heat sources in district heating networks (18 bcm).

The Fitfor55’ package established a clear pathway to 100% renewable and climate-neutral district heating and cooling networks by 2050. We need the right framework and tools to deploy clean and renewable sources, build or upgrade Europe’s existing district heating and cooling infrastructure.

A total of 144 billion euros must be invested in EU district heating and cooling networks by 2030.

How do you make this happen?

The European district heating and cooling industry identified eight key recommendations to move forward with ambition.

Decarbonising district heating and cooling - Joint Policy Roundtable