IMAGE: KeepWarm

An on-line “Learning Centre” to pool knowledge and resources on district heating systems in different languages was launched today, in the framework of the KeepWarm project, funded by the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. It is open and free for all stakeholders involved in the planning, provision or use of district heating, who would like to deepen their knowledge or find hands-on information to help support their decision-making process on thermal systems.

 

“Heating has been neglected in the EU's climate and energy policy for many years. Meanwhile, the demand for guidance, knowledge transfer and exchange of experience has grown. To respond to this request, KeepWarm project partners developed new training material and decided further to systematically collect materials from various high quality sources and make them accessible in one place: the KeepWarm Learning Centre”, says Carsten Rothballer, Coordinator for Sustainable Resources, Climate and Resilience at ICLEI Europe, KeepWarm project partner.

 

“The KeepWarm Learning Centre is pooling resources and solutions on district heating in Europe and beyond in one place”, explains Stefanie Schädlich, Project coordinator of the KeepWarm project at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). “This includes a large selection of training materials developed or collected by project partners in 7 languages, but also reports, materials with datasheets, analysis, policy recommendations, as well as business models, funding sources, project development and implementation steps characteristic for several technological solutions.”

 

The Learning Centre was primarily designed to support district heating operators, when deciding to improve their existing district heating system. However, it is also a very useful resource for policy-makers, engineers, urban planners, operators of district heating plants or grids, real-estate developers, consumer organisations or concerned citizens.

 

KeepWarm is an EU-funded project whose objective is to accelerate cost-effective investments in the modernisation of District Heating Systems (DHS). It brings together eleven project partners from a variety of relevant sectors from seven countries across Central and Eastern Europe. The aim of the initiative is to modernise DHS around the whole region and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improving system operations and promoting a switch to less-polluting sources, like renewables. Project partners strive to ensure that best practices for environmental-friendlier heating and cooling will be taken up across Europe. For more information: www.keepwarmeurope.eu

 

To visit the KeepWarm Learning Centre: www.keepwarmeurope.eu/learning-centre

 

For any other questions, contact: stefanie.schaedlich@giz.de or carsten.rothballer@iclei.org