With winter fast approaching, and with massive disruptions to the European energy market brought on by the Russian war in Ukraine, municipalities across the Union must simultaneously diversify their energy supply, transition to clean, renewable alternatives, and provide their residents with cost saving options.

To be in accordance with the REPowerEU Plan – Europe's plan to rapidly reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels – and the 2050 decarbonisation goals, city planners must accelerate their action in strategic heating and cooling (H&C) planning and decision-making in order to provide more affordable, secure, and sustainable energy. To dramatically decrease fossil fuel dependency and increase the share of renewable energy being used in Europe this winter, as well as reduce the energy demand by increasing efficiency, action has to be taken at the local level and with meaningful involvement of a variety of stakeholders. To accelerate this energy transition, a European-wide ‘Support Facility’ is available to all local energy planners.

As strategic H&C planning requires know-how, resources and experience, not all municipalities are equally prepared for an energy transition. This is where the Act!onHeat Support Facility comes in, with specific tools and assistance for municipalities to start, complete, or improve upon their district H&C planning.

Since its launch in March 2022, the Support Facility is already actively guiding energy planners from municipalities across Europe. Examples of support services include: the development of guidelines in tendering services for H&C planning; targeted support on dealing with data, e.g. how to set up a cadastre for industrial excess heat; and in-depth analysis on an Act!onHeat case study on setting up a business case for the development of a district heating network.

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