ConnectHeat may be coming to an end, but its legacy lives on! To mark the conclusion of the project and to present the results, the Consortium gathered in person for one final meeting in Genk, Belgium, alongside the 19th International Symposium on District Heating and Cooling.

Coordinated by Ambiente Italia, the ConnectHeat multidisciplinary consortium is composed of 10+ partners from all over Europe:

What is ConnectHeat?

ConnectHeat is the first European initiative to develop heating and cooling communities in Europe, implementing six real pilot cases in different EU countries and positioning public authorities and citizens at the heart of the energy transition.

The project accelerated the decarbonisation of heating and cooling through an EU-wide implementation of citizen-led and energy community initiatives. It created an enabling policy and strategic framework and improved the capacities of public authorities to trigger innovative community energy initiatives through local participative and cooperative processes. It lead to increased share of renewables and higher energy efficiency of heating and cooling across Europe, developing real pilot cases in six different European regions (Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Italy and Spain).

From ideas to real cases: The results and impacts of ConnectHeat

On September 8th, the project meeting featured a series of presentations highlighting the progress and achievements made over the past 3 years. It was joined by a Policy Adviser from the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), who provided valuable feedback and input to the project, ensuring that the work done will continue to influence the future of district heating and cooling systems.

Pilot cases

ConnectHeat has developed 6 diverse pilot cases across Europe: Anzegem (Belgium), Gemona (Italy), Stuttgart (Germany), Zagreb (Croatia), Gran Canaria (Spain), and Plovdiv (Bulgaria), each aiming to implement innovative and sustainable community heating solutions. These pilots were presented and discussed during the meeting, offering a tangible insight into how local energy transitions are being trialled in real-world contexts. Each case explores technical feasibility, investment requirements (capital and operational expenditure), and supply-demand dynamics, providing a realistic overview of potential pathways towards decarbonised heating systems.

A key element of each pilot is the local “community model” adopted: how stakeholders are engaged, the governance structures in place, and the role of citizen participation. During the meeting, attendees also examined risk assessments for each pilot, highlighting both the enabling conditions and the challenges specific to different regions. These discussions underscored not only what is technically possible, but also what is socially and practically viable within the diverse socio-economic and regulatory landscapes across Europe.

The pilot presentations highlighted the complexity and promise of local energy planning. Beyond the technological aspects, they emphasised the importance of integrating financial, organisational, and social dimensions to ensure successful implementation. The lessons drawn from these pilots provide valuable guidance for other local authorities and regions seeking to decarbonise their heating systems, particularly in terms of stakeholder engagement, investment planning, and the potential for replication across different territorial contexts.

To explore each of these pilot cases in more detail, including data, methodologies, and local insights, download the full reports below! The individual reports are available both in English and in the respective local languages of each pilot area, making them accessible for a wide range of stakeholders.

Regional Policy Roadmaps

Alongside the implementation of the pilot cases, each participating region also developed its own Heating and Cooling Policy Roadmap as part of the ConnectHeat project. They provide an overview of the key barriers and challenges faced in the six target regions that currently impede the development and implementation of heating and cooling communities.

Each individual report outlines both short- and long-term policy roadmaps, along with the necessary tools and actions to support and accelerate the adoption of community-based heating and cooling solutions. The reports are written in the respective national languages, each accompanied by a comprehensive summary in English.

They complement the technical work carried out in the pilots, offering practical insights for other regions aiming to follow a similar path. The full set of documents can be accessed below:

Policy at the EU level

Heating and cooling account for more than 50% of Europe’s final energy use, yet it remains underrepresented in both policy and implementation efforts. In particular, Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), despite their transformative potential, are still predominantly focused on electricity, leaving thermal energy out of the picture.

To bridge this gap, ConnectHeat project partners published and discussed the new position paper advocating for stronger integration of renewable H&C into community-led energy initiatives. The paper outlines the immense potential of H&C communities to decarbonise local energy systems, combat energy poverty, and empower citizens through collective ownership and governance.

Why it matters?

  • Around 75% of H&C in the EU is still fossil-based.
  • Efficient and renewable-based District Heating & Cooling (DHC) networks can become a cornerstone of decarbonised urban energy systems.
  • RECs that include H&C can deliver social, economic, and environmental benefits while promoting energy democracy and empowering citizens.

Real-life inspiration

Despite regulatory delays, many successful H&C communities are already operational across Europe — from Sweden to Spain. They often rely on cooperatives, multi-source renewable supply, and participatory governance models. An interactive map showcasing these initiatives is available here.

Policy recommendations

To scale up renewable H&C communities, the paper presents concrete proposals in three areas:

  • Legislation & Implementation: Explicitly include thermal energy in REC definitions, enable heat prosumers, and open access to DHC networks.
  • Financing & Incentives: Deploy risk reduction tools, public funding, and business models like “H&C-as-a-service”, including crowdfunding and co-investment instruments.
  • Awareness & Capacity Building: Expand support services, empower local authorities, and promote best practices to drive acceptance and replication.
Access here the Position Paper

Want to know more? Check out the Training Toolbox

The Training Toolbox under ConnectHeat is a rich resource built to support capacity-building in the heating and cooling community energy sector. It includes recordings and presentation materials from the “Train the Trainers” series and webinars covering topics such as community and stakeholder engagement, technological frameworks, legal and organisational frameworks, financial tools & business models, and non‑financial cost/benefit analysis.

These sessions have been designed not only for sharing “what works”, but also for enabling local actors, energy agencies, municipalities, and civil society to learn from each other to more effectively plan, finance, and implement sustainable H&C systems.

What makes the Toolbox especially valuable is its open accessibility: all sessions are recorded, with both the videos and presentation slides freely downloadable, so stakeholders from across Europe can benefit regardless of geography. The Toolbox doesn’t just address technical aspects: it also tackles social dimensions, legal frameworks, financial innovation, and community engagement, giving a holistic view of what it takes to establish successful thermal or energy communities.

Access here the Training Toolbox