District energy in cities: From EU vision to local action through an integrated approach

This High Level Policy Session will contribute to two elements that will be instrumental in delivering the Commission’s vision of the Energy Union, namely establishing energy efficiency as Europe’s ‘first fuel’ and developing a heating and cooling strategy as part of the broader European energy transition.

A range of experts from academia, industry and the public sector will present and discuss a combination of key principles and practical lessons as to how district heating networks can deliver more sustainable thermal comfort in cities and, in combination with a more efficient building stock, support the wider climate and energy ambitions of Europe as a whole. Drawing on the recent publication District Energy in Cities: Unlocking the Full Potential of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the United Nations Environment Programme will share a number of inspiring case studies from Europe and around the world.

Finally, through dialogue with each other and the audience, the panellists will endeavour to set out concrete heating and cooling policy recommendations for a range of governance levels as well as identify the associated challenges and opportunities.

Speaker

David Connolly : Assistant Professor in Energy Planning at Aalborg University in Copenhagen       

Paul Voss : Managing Director, Euroheat & Power, Belgium

Thomas Boermans : Managing Consultant, Energy Efficiency Ecofys

Zarpana Signor : Vice President, Deutsche Bank AG Belgium

Mark Johnston : Senior Adviser, European Policy Centre

Ulf Björnholm : Head of the UNEP Brussels Liaison Office, UNEP

Marie Donnelly : Director Renewables, Research and Innovation, and Energy Efficiency at DGE, EC