How DHC systems can drive decarbonisation, improve urban resilience, and empower local communities
The MUSE DHC’s partner OECoop is an association of 51 associated local Renewable Energy Cooperatives (RECs) based in Catalonia. It supports them with specialised assistance in the development and management of energy projects to help them achieve the energy transition.
Roser Salvat Jofresa, project Manager at OECoop, tells us about the diffusion of DHC networks in Spain and especially in Catalonia.
Are DHC networks popular in Spain?
DHC networks remain relatively uncommon in Spain compared with countries such as Denmark, Germany, or Sweden. Nonetheless, interest is rising thanks to new incentive programmes and the growing need to decarbonise heating and cooling in urban areas.
Spain’s mild climate and tradition of individual heating and cooling systems have slowed DHC adoption. Existing networks are mostly small and concentrated in university campuses, new developments, or specific urban districts. Additionally, regulatory complexity, limited municipal experience, and the absence of a strong DHC planning culture hinder expansion. Despite that, EU funding, national climate commitments, and technological advances are creating favourable conditions for growth.
Catalonia currently hosts the largest concentration of DHC networks in Spain. Barcelona’s Districlima system in the Fòrum and 22@ districts is the most advanced example, supplying more than 100 buildings and planning to double its service area by 2032. The region is also emerging as a pioneer of geothermal-hybrid 5th-generation DHC networks, supported by the Catalan Energy Institute (ICAEN) and aligned with regional climate and energy strategies.
How can DHC Networks support the local climate neutrality strategy?
With heating and cooling representing roughly a third of Catalonia’s total energy use, transforming these sectors is crucial to meeting the region’s target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 67% by 2035.
DHC networks contribute to climate neutrality by:
- Improving efficiency: They are around 30% more efficient than individual systems.
- Using local renewable sources: Biomass, geothermal energy, solar thermal, and waste heat significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
- Enhancing public health and resilience: By eliminating rooftop cooling towers, they reduce legionella risks and energy losses, while district cooling helps cities stay liveable during heatwaves.
- Delivering measurable emissions reductions: Since 2020, Barcelona’s Districlima network has avoided more than 21,000 tonnes of CO₂, with savings expected to exceed 417,000 tonnes by 2032.
DHC networks also benefit from strong EU and regional funding streams, positioning them as a cornerstone of Catalonia’s broader decarbonisation strategies.
We face several challenges in developing DHC networks. Among them:
- Economic and financial hurdles – High upfront infrastructure costs, long payback periods and perceived investment risks can slow deployment, especially where heating demand is relatively low.
- Regulatory and planning limitations – Fragmented governance, unclear permitting processes, and land-use constraints complicate project development and replication.
- Technical challenges – The increasing dominance of cooling demand in coastal areas requires updated design approaches. Low-temperature 4th- and 5th-generation networks also require advanced control systems and specialised expertise.
- Limited public awareness – Many citizens remain unfamiliar with the benefits of DHC, yet community involvement is essential for successful network uptake.
- Climate-adaptation constraints – Water scarcity, drought conditions, and competing land-use needs must be carefully integrated into system planning.
Tell us about the case studies you work on within the MUSE project
We work on two case studies: Torello and Les Masies de Voltregà.
Torelló, a town of 15,000 residents in northern Osona (Barcelona), is developing a 4 km DHC network powered entirely by geothermal energy and heat pumps. The municipality and the local energy community Pescaenergia SCCL lead the project, which will serve around 700 users with a 3 MW capacity and 8,400 MWh of annual output. Aligned with the regional Nova Energia Osona (NEO) strategy, the project will function as a replicable pilot, fostering community participation and addressing socio-economic and technical barriers through an adapted business model.
Les Masies de Voltregà is a rural municipality of 3,400 residents and dispersed population centres. Individual heating systems and domestic biomass remain common, but the municipality is actively engaging in regional energy-transition programmes. The region is exploring opportunities to recover waste heat from industrial processes, which remain underused despite significant potential. District Heating coverage in Osona is still limited but growing through targeted biomass networks, hybrid renewable systems, and community energy initiatives. This case study aims to demonstrate how industrial waste heat can meaningfully contribute to local decarbonisation when supported by strong municipal and community leadership.
Why is engaging citizens key?
Citizen engagement is fundamental to the success of DHC networks. These systems require the participation of residents, businesses, and local stakeholders throughout their development and operation.
Engaging the public ensures networks meet real community needs, builds trust, encourages co-design and collaborative governance, increases transparency and long-term local ownership, in addition to supporting policy alignment with community priorities.
Strong public involvement also enables innovative governance and financing models, helping secure the long-term viability of district energy systems.
Why have you chosen to be part of MUSE DHC?
MUSE DHC enables us to contribute directly to Catalonia’s low-carbon transition by supporting the deployment of efficient, renewable-based district energy solutions. The project strengthens collaboration among municipalities, research centres, industry partners, and citizens, while fostering knowledge exchange and showcasing replicable best practices.
Participation in MUSE DHC also opens opportunities for long-term cooperation, follow-up initiatives, and access to expert resources and potential co-investment mechanisms.