Cities & the Renovation Wave: Impactful District-Level Approaches

The European Commission’s flagship initiative the “Renovation Wave” aims to decarbonise the European building stock. This is a massive endeavour as buildings are responsible for 40% of the EU’s final energy consumption and account for 36% of CO2 emissions.

Two-thirds of existing buildings are likely to remain in use by 2050. Therefore, the “Renovation Wave’s” success will depend on an approach that is both broad and ambitious enough to tackle the challenge of decarbonising our homes by guaranteeing efficient and decarbonised heat supply and transforming the buildings themselves. Smart district energy networks are a crucial prerequisite for the large-scale utilisation of low-carbon and renewable energy sources in cities. The Council has underlined the need to include district heating and cooling networks in the scope of the “Renovation Wave”. Meanwhile cities and regions alike have already started implementing similar approaches with heat network pilots and renovations going hand in hand.

During this workshop we will discuss how the “Renovation Wave” will provide support to cities and regions to decarbonise their building stock and hear about local approaches that are already under way in Europe.

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Preliminary Programme:

9:30 – 10:30 The Renovation Wave – what’s in it for the local level?
Moderator: Giulia Forgnone, Policy Officer, Euroheat & Power

• Karlis Goldstein, Energy Efficiency Adviser to the Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, DG ENERGY
• Renée Bruel, Director Buildings, European Climate Foundation
• Susana Paardekooper PhD Fellow, Aalborg University
• Edward James-Smith, Energy Attaché, Permanent Representation of Denmark to the European Union

10:30 – 10:40 Coffee/tea break

10:40 – 11:40 Local district-level approaches and needs for the Renovation Wave
Moderator: Sofia Lettenbichler, Policy & Projects Manager, Euroheat & Power

• Adrian Hiel, EU Policy & Communications, Energy Cities
• Britt Verhesen, Energy Project Leader, City of Antwerp
• Maya van der Steenhoven, expert heat transition in the Netherlands
• Tomislav Novosel, Project Manager at North West Croatia Regional Energy Agency (REGEA)

11:40 – 11:50 Closing remarks

• Paul Voss, MD Euroheat & Power

For more information about the “Renovation Wave” we invite you to:

• Read the following articles: “The EU Renovation Wave, Reenergizing District Energy” and “There isn’t one renovation wave”
• Watch Euroheat & Power’s webinar “Planning the Renovation Wave: how district energy can help?” which took place on May 19, 2020.