Enabling strategies and investment plans for efficient, multi-energy and digitalized DHC

Introduction

ENABLE DHC aims at fostering the switch of district heating and cooling (DHC) networks towards efficient DHC as defined in the Energy Efficiency Directive. This will be achieved by developing 9 case studies of investment plans in 7 countries (AT, HR, IE, IT, LV, SI, UA) with very different framework conditions.

Collaboration and Focus

The plans will be developed in close cooperation with the DHC utilities, focusing on the following distinguishing features:

• Digitalization
• Assessment of investment risks
• Sector coupling

Through a Case Study Assembly, the EU-added value of the cooperation among the DHC operators is ensured.

Impact Enhancement

Furthermore, the impact of the activities will be enhanced through concrete support to 18 follower case studies in the project countries. This will be complemented by an ambitious replication plan that includes:

1. 7 national workshops
2. 3 Pan-European webinars
3. 1 mid-term policy workshop
4. 1 final event

These events will target DHC stakeholders beyond the project boundaries.

Policy Development

An intense policy work will also be carried out, leading to the development of:

• 7 policy roadmaps for the project countries, endorsed by public authorities
• A ‘Blueprint for action’

Stakeholders will be directly involved through 9 DHC Working Groups connected to the case studies, and their interest is evidenced by the 50 letters of support received.

Consortium Structure

The consortium, including 12 partners, is well equipped for pursuing the project objective. It consists of:

• 3 key technical partners performing the studies for the investment plans
• 4 local partners acting as interfaces between the technical partners and the utilities managing the DHC networks
• 4 partners dealing with policy support, dissemination, and replication
• 1 utility directly representing one of the case studies

All other DHC operators of the case studies have been included as associated partners through a specific letter of support.

Expected Outcomes

Already within the project time frame, a renewable energy source (RES) generation of around 654 GWh/year and almost 100 million EUR of investments in sustainable energy will be triggered.