HOT|COOL NO. 2/2017 - "The Winter Package"

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By Birger Lauersen, Manager International Affairs, The Danish District Heating Association (Dansk Fjernvarme) and Vice-President, Euroheat & Power

This prominent role is also the positive outcome of efforts of the European DHC sector with the Heat Roadmap Europe analyses, which demonstrate the role the technologies will play in developing a sustainable energy supply for cities. The prominent role in the proposed RED can also be seen as an upgrade in status of DHC from mainly being seen as energy efficiency measure, to DHC also being recognized as a conduit for renewable energy (RE). Also challenges Generally there is an increased awareness of the importance of heating and cooling (not least due to aforementioned Heat Roadmap Europe and previous work), and it is positively reflected in the package, but it also means that the sectors are facing increasing demand for scrutiny. The fact that the development trend for RE in the heating/cooling sector at European level does not keep pace with the development of renewables in the electricity sector, has attracted attention and pressure to increase its rise.

In November 2016 the European Commission published its most recent energy initiative under the heading "Clean Energy for All Europeans". Of primary significance for the district heating and cooling sector are proposals for a major revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), minor revisions of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), and as well as proposals on the design of the electricity market, security of electricity supply and governance rules for the Energy Union. Good news The EU Commission has taken the habit of presenting its legislative initiatives in "packages" and presented a Winter Package in November with a series of proposals that affect the European energy supply. The package is welcomed by the Danish District Heating Association and the European district heating and cooling (DHC) sector in general - primarily because district heating and cooling play a major role in the package - especially in the proposal for revision of the RED.

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