Renewable Heating and Cooling: a new SRA to supply 25% of energy demand by 2020
Accounting for over half of EU energy demand, the heating and cooling sector is the Cinderella of the energy debate; essential yet largely neglected. According to Eurostat, 84% of energy supplied for heating and cooling in 2011 was produced through burning fossil fuels, with severe implications for the environment and climate. Renewable energy technologies offer a
safe, reliable, clean and increasingly efficient solution to Europe’s heating and cooling needs. Cost effective decarbonisation of the heating and cooling market is achievable, however public and private resources must be mobilised around a clear vision and strategic research agenda (SRA). In 2008, the European Technology Platform
on Renewable Heating and Cooling (RHC- Platform) was established with the aim of providing
a common framework for
European industry and research stakeholders to define technological research needs and strategic priorities to increase the use of renewable energy sources (RES) for heating and cooling and to consolidate EU technological leadership. Through the common vision for the
Renewable Heating & Cooling sector in Europe in 2011, the RHC-Platform proved that the theoretical and technical potential of renewable energy sources could cover a quarter of EU energy consumption by 2020. However, the report also showed that making such potential economically viable remains an outstanding challenge. To realise the Common Vision, the RHC-
Platform has produced the Strategic Research Agenda for Renewable Heating and Cooling (RHC-SRA), a key document addressing the
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short, medium and longer term R&D needs in the field of renewable heating and cooling technologies and putting together the strategic research priorities identified for biomass, geothermal, solar
thermal
technological and organisational changes that will need to be converted into specific research activities over the next years, starting from Horizon 2020, the next EU framework programme innovation
for (2014-2020). Furthermore,
research and it
aims to facilitate the coordination of other research programmes in and between EU member states. As market growth greatly depends on
major technological advances, the implementation of the SRA, along with appropriate market conditions, will be crucial in realising the shift to a renewable energy system in which European citizens can enjoy affordable and sustainable heating and cooling services. The RHC-SRA has been launched at the
4th European Conference on Renewable Heating and Cooling (Dublin April 2013). Organised by the RHC-Platform in association with the Irish presidency of the EU and co-financed by the European Commission, this has become the biggest annual gathering of its kind, providing a unique opportunity for learning, knowledge sharing networking and discussion surrounding RHC technologies. Over the course of three plenary and seven
parallel sessions, conference delegates will participate in defining which research, development and demonstration projects are
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best suited to the implementation of the SRA until 2020, and therefore are recommended to receive support under Horizon 2020. The challenge ahead is not just
and
cross-cutting technologies. The SRA sets out the likely directions of
technological. Tomorrow’s energy systems are defined by the policy and legal framework we adopt today, which must provide the right conditions to attract large scale public and private investments. Public support will increase as the full potential of social benefits, such as green jobs, is realised. Successful deployment of renewable energy technologies also has to take into account the needs of end-users and industry investors need the right signals today – from the EU and national governments – to make Europe a resource efficient and renewable energy economy by 2050. The next European Budget (2014-2020) is
being decided in troubled economic times, however this ought not to divert the ambition of European policy makers to secure enough resources for the research and innovation of renewable heating and cooling technology.
★ Additional info:
Mr. Simone Landolina Coordinator of the RHC-Platform’s Secretariat c/o EUREC Agency
tel: +32 25461943 email:
landolina@eurec.be web:
www.rhc-platform.org
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