How the EIB can support district heating decarbonisation

The heating and cooling sector accounts for half of the EU’s energy consumption. Both district heating and individual heating are still dominated by fossil fuels and inefficiently burned biomass. According to Eurostat, only 22 percent of heating and cooling is generated from renewable energy. Decarbonisation of this sector, through increasing its efficiency and use of renewable energy sources, is key to the success of the EU’s climate neutrality strategy.

This briefing by Counter Balance member CEE Bankwatch Network collects examples of successful modernisations of district heating and cooling systems conducted with the support of the EU and the European Investment Bank. The analysed case studies show how available finance and technical assistance mechanisms can support district heating rehabilitation and development, their transformation from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources and the deployment of innovative technologies. It presents case studies from Poland, Hungary and Lithuania that represent the efficient use of renewable energy, waste heat and technical assistance.

The briefing, How can the EIB and the EU financial mechanisms support the decarbonisation of district heating?: Exemplary cases in central and eastern Europe, was originally published on the CEE Bankwatch Network website.