The heating policy paradox
Citizens across Europe are concerned about their heating bills as a result of the energy price crisis, but sustainable heating and cooling do not yet receive much attention in the EU’s agenda
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Heating is becoming an increasingly pivotal issue in the energy transition, especially as we enter a winter where many of us are thinking twice about when to put the heating on in our homes. However, sustainable heating solutions seem absent in the EU’s response to the energy crisis.
District heating & cooling (DHC) networks are one of the most efficient solutions to lower emissions from our buildings. But its decarbonisation potential is still untapped, as most of the heat in these networks is still produced with fossil fuels. In this episode, we look into the policy incentives needed to decarbonise our heating systems and how the EU can make the most of the potential of DHC.
This week’s guest is Aurélie Beauvais, Managing Director at Brussels-based association Euroheat & Power. She previously held the position of Deputy CEO and Policy Director of SolarPower Europe from 2017 to 2021. She also headed the European Affairs department of the French Union of Electricity from 2012 to 2017.
Enjoy the show!
If you have any thoughts or questions about anything that has been discussed in this week’s episode, you can reach us at our Twitter accounts:
Aurélie Beauvais
Michaela Holl
Jan Rosenow
David Weston
Anna Gumbau
@WattMattersPod
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Illustration: Masha Krasnova-Shabaeva. Art director: Trine Natskår.
Show notes:
Comment | Why solar farms can benefit wildlife – Keele University
Biodiversity measures to fast-track renewables deployment – FORESIGHT
Michael Liebrich on Twitter
Commission work programme
Scotland generates record amount of renewable electricity – BBC News
A 10-Point Plan to accelerate the EU heat transition
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