ConnectHeat's Newest Position Paper on Renewable Heating & Cooling is Available

ConnectHeat recently published a position paper titled "Warmer (and Cooler) Together: Position Paper on Renewable Heating & Cooling for Energy Communities." The report recommends further integration of renewable heating and cooling into community-led initiatives. Inside the paper, readers can find information about how heating and cooling policy is overlooked in Europe, with electricity being far more prioritised in Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), despite heating and cooling making up more than 50% of Europe's final energy use and being around 75% fossil-fuel powered. Despite this landscape, ConnectHeat argues that renewable heating and cooling is an area with large potential to decarbonise, lower energy poverty, and empower citizens in communities. 

The paper also highlights to high potential for Renewable Heating and Cooling Communities to promote renewable heating and cooling practices. Renewable Heating and Cooling Communities are local initiatives where citizens, municipalities, and businesses cooperate to produce, consume, share, or sell thermal energy from renewable sources. Through such actions, these communities share an inclusive governance structure while promoting economic redistribution. 

The paper presents policy recommendations in the following areas:

• Legislation & Regulation: The paper recommends the explicit inclusion of thermal energy in REC definitions, the enabling of heat prosumers, and the provision of open access to DHC networks.
• Financing & Incentives: Further recommendations include the promotion of risk reduction tools, public funding, and business models like “H&C-as-a-service,” including crowdfunding and co-investment instruments.
• Awareness & Capacity Building: Expanding support services, empowering local authorities, and promoting best practices to drive acceptance and replication, are further recommendations provided by the ConnectHeat paper.

With policy lagging behind technology and communities that are capable of furthering renewable energy and cooling, policies must work towards integrating thermal energy into energy communities. 

Source: ConnectHeat