2020 - 2030 - 2050 - Common Vision of the European Technology Platform on Renewable Heating and Cooling

The objective of this report was to set a short-, medium- and long- term vision for the heating and cooling systems in the European Union, taking into account on one hand the expected trend of energy demand and consumption patterns, and on the other the potential of renewable energy sources to provide a secure and sustainable supply of heating and cooling. Heating accounts for a significant proportion of Europe¿s energy demand. Efficiency gains are required in both residential heating and industrial processes, better use of thermal energy being a crucial condition for meeting the renewable energy targets stated in this document by 2020 and beyond. Conversely, cooling demand is expected to rise significantly in the next years in spite of the insulation and energy saving measures which nevertheless are to be adopted. The theoretical and technical potential of renewable energy sources is such to fully cover and even exceed the total heating and cooling consumption of the whole European population. Nevertheless, one of the main challenges which need to be tackled is to define how to economically realise such potential. The optimal combination of renewable energy technologies to meet the thermal energy needs of a given user depends strongly on local conditions such as population density, intensity of use, quantity and quality of available energy infrastructure and resource availability. The majority of energy use takes place in urban areas where district heating and cooling networks represent a critical infrastructure to ensure large scale integration of renewable energy sources.JRC.DDG.F.8-Renewable Energy (Ispra