What is district heating and cooling? How is it related to the achievement of climate neutrality? And how can ordinary people play a role in all this?
The EU-funded project MUSE DHC strives to meet a need linked to people’s well-being, as well as to the energy transition.
We interview Riccardo Battisti, Senior Project Manager at Ambiente Italia and coordinator of MUSE DHC.
Why did you propose MUSE DHC to the Commission?
A fair and just energy transition should put consumers at the heart of the process. This is true not only for electricity but also for heating and cooling, where community-led district heating and cooling (DHC) networks can drive the decarbonisation of the sector.
Projects such as MUSE DHC can empower citizens, helping them make informed choices while, at the same time, bringing the transition one step closer to reality.
Why do cities need DHC networks? What’s your experience?
District heating and cooling is a very efficient way to produce and distribute heat and cold. Citizens connected to such networks can use energy without the need for radiators or boilers in their homes. Moreover, no maintenance is required.
From the perspective of decarbonisation targets, DHC networks allow the integration of large shares of renewable energy sources, thus making climate neutrality more achievable.
Finally, DHC powered by renewables helps reduce energy bills.
How can the project help citizens become key actors of the green transition?
Citizens will be involved from the very beginning in MUSE DHC activities, especially through 9 local working groups (Living Labs). These will support the development and future implementation of investment plans for new, efficient DHC networks in five EU countries: France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain.
MUSE DHC will listen to citizens’ needs and provide them with governance models that ensure their active participation in local DHC projects.
What will MUSE DHC do?
Many things! At its core, the project focuses on developing 9 investment plans for new, efficient, community-led DHC networks in five EU countries, also including governance models that guarantee active bottom-up participation.
We will also set up a Working Table to transfer know-how and upskill other cooperatives and energy communities across Europe in the construction, governance, cooperation, and maintenance of new efficient DHC systems. Additionally, we will prepare a Blueprint for Action, a practical handbook for all actors interested in such projects.
Local and regional authorities will also be involved, through a Community of Practice that transfers know-how, builds capacities, and promotes discussion.
At the policy level, the Strategic Guidelines will provide recommendations for the uptake of effective local strategies fostering efficient community-led DHC, while a Position Paper will offer tailored input for the revision and upgrade of national strategies.
Finally, beyond our project case studies, 9 additional “follower” DHC cases will receive practical support in setting up efficient community-led projects based on the MUSE DHC approach.
What’s the added value of MUSE DHC?
Without a doubt: the citizen-led approach. In our project, final users are the key actors in the development of new community DHC initiatives. They can become owners of the infrastructure through a cooperative company, act as investors through innovative financial models such as crowdfunding, and have a say in project development and operation.
What are your expectations?
Citizen-led projects, characterised by a clear bottom-up approach, are too often met with a fair degree of scepticism.
What I would like to see at the end of the project is a collection of practical experiences that demonstrate that citizen-led efficient DHC is not only possible but also economically feasible, while bringing a variety of benefits to the territories involved.
Curious to learn more or interested in being involved? Contact us!