The Heat Is On: Energy Union from Principle to Practice

During the 2016 edition of the EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW), Euroheat & Power co-organised a policy session on Wednesday 15 June together with the CELSIUS project, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), GCP Europe and the European Heating Industry Association (EHI).

Heating and Cooling Strategy: a promise of transformation and decarbonisation

With the publication of the Energy Union strategy in November 2015 and the Heat Strategy in February 2016, the European Commission has launched a new process stating that the objectives of EU climate and energy policy can only be achieved with significant changes in the heating sector.

Heating and cooling are together the largest single source of energy demand in Europe, currently met largely by fossil fuels. The sector requires a level of attention from policy-makers consistent with both its size and the scale of its potential contribution to both the climate and energy ambitions of the EU and worldwide. Renewables – mostly biomass – currently account for a small share of Europe’s heat production. Preparing the ground for a greater uptake of efficient and renewable heating and cooling will be a key challenge for policy-makers in the years ahead. New and integrated policy and technology solutions will be required to create flexibility in energy demand, enable short and long-term energy storage, and make intelligent use of synergies across sectors (such as power, sanitation, sewage treatment, transport and waste). The central role of consumers and their contribution to the decarbonisation of the European heating & cooling sector will be an underlying theme throughout this event.

Therefore, this session offered an active panel debate by providing speakers from different levels of governance and stakeholders. Panellists discussed the opportunities and challenges in achieving a transition to sustainable heating and cooling systems. European cities and industry have the opportunity to retain global leadership in the energy transition by sharing experience and catalysing action in developing countries and in emerging economies.

The panel debate tackled the challenge of how the EU can accelerate the decarbonisation of the heating and cooling sector, and increased security of supply, in the most cost-effective manner in view of its 2030 climate and energy ambitions.

A transformation has to take place in terms of governance of energy planning, production and consumption. Therefore, the session emphasised the key role of cities and local communities in delivering the European Union energy goals for 2030 and 2050 and realising the promise of the Energy Union. It brought the unique local vision and expertise to the European debate on heating and cooling by providing concrete examples and best practices from local politicians and heating companies.

The event featured a keynote, a panel discussion, and an interactive Q&A session with the audience.