JASPERS guide to decarbonisation of district heating systems

This JASPERS’ practical guidance document on climate change resilience proofing is meant to provide further technical support and concrete advice for the implementation of the European Commission Notice — Technical guidance on the climate proofing of infrastructure in the period 2021-2027, with a specific focus on the sectors of Energy, Municipal Solid Waste Management, and Transport. The document serves as a comprehensive resource for stakeholders involved in the development of infrastructure projects that are to be co-financed by the Cohesion Fund and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the EU Member States and therefore need to be climate proofed according to the requirements of Article 73(2)(j) of the EU Common Provisions Regulation. Climate proofing has two pillars of analysis that integrate (1) climate mitigation and (2) climate resilience/adaptation considerations into the development of infrastructure projects. This document addresses the second pillar of climate resilience. Overall, the guidance also aims to serve as a general reference on good practices for climate change resilience proofing. The document will be revised as necessary to ensure it remains current and relevant.

Half of the energy in the EU is used for heating and cooling buildings, with the majority still derived from fossil fuels. District heating systems, more prevalent in central-eastern and northern Europe, account for about 10% of the EU’s heat demand. There are approximately 10,000 district heating systems in the EU, serving 70 million people. Upgrading these systems to be more efficient and renewable-based is essential for meeting EU energy policy objectives. Significant investments are required, and the EU has allocated substantial funds for these upgrades in its 2021-2027 financial framework. This guide aims to simplify the preparation of district heating decarbonisation projects to benefit from EU funding. It provides systematic practical advice based on JASPERS’ experience, covering areas such as analysis of the existing situation, objective setting, options analysis, definition of measures, and determination of an optimized set of measures. The document targets regions, municipalities, and district heating companies planning projects under the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework, reflecting best practices and EU regulations as of June 2024.

This guidebook addresses how to green projects funded by the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate and Environment (FEnIKS) Programme across all sectors. It aims to outline the basic requirements for green practices in all projects, as well as at considering the approaches for promoting additional, extra greening measures during project preparation and execution. The guidebook targets project promoters and public administration institutions responsible for implementing the FEnIKS Programme in Poland (MA, IB, IA).