SDHp2m … from policy to market Summary Report

SDHp2m stands for Solar District Heating (SDH) and actions from policy to market. The project addressed market uptake challenges for a wider use of district heating and cooling systems with high shares of renewable heat sources, specifically the action focuses on the use of large-scale solar thermal plants combined with other renewable sources in district heating and cooling systems.

The key approach of the project was to develop, improve and implement advanced policies and support measures for SDH in 9 participating European regions. In 3 focus regions with high potential the regulating regional authorities were participating as project partners in order to ensure a strong implementation capacity within the project. In 6 follower regions the regulating authorities were engaged through letters of commitment and cooperated with experienced consultant partners. The project activities aimed at a direct mobilization of investments in SDH and hence a significant market rollout due to an improved policy, regulation and financing framework backed with embedded efficient market support and capacity building measures.

Nine European regions participated in the SDHp2m project at different levels:
A-regions: 3 regions with high potential and with the regulating authority as project partner. In these regions the project was implemented in an intense and comprehensive way.

• Thuringia (DE) represented by Thuringian Ministry for the Environment Energy and Nature Protection
• Styria (AT) represented by Styrian Department of Energy, Housing and Technologies
• Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes ARA (FR) represented by Regional Council of Rhône-Alpes as affiliated partner of the regional agency Association Rhonalpenergie-Environment

B-regions: 6 regions with good potential or also newcomers. One consultant partner per region participated in the project. The regional regulating authorities were involved through letters of support (LOS). B- regions were:

• Hamburg (DE, federal state) with a LOS of Authority for Urban Development and Environment
• Västra Götaland (SE) with a LOS of the Environmental Director of the region Västra Götaland
• Valle d’Aosta and Veneto (IT) with LOS of the regional development agency and the government, respectively
• Varna (BG) with LOS of the Mayor of Varna and the association of Energy Cities, as regulating power is on municipal level in BG
• Masovian (PL) with LOS of the Deputy Mayor of Warsaw (capital of Masovian)

Of these regions Valle d’Aosta, Veneto, Varna and Masovian were newcomer regions.

Specific activities and impact achieved in all of these regions are described in the Summary Report.