Solar heating: how cities can decarbonise their district heating systems? – Session #01

6,000 cities and towns in Europe already have a district heating grid that needs to be decarbonized in the next decade. More municipalities plan to expand and develop new district heating systems to reduce dependency on fossil fuels (especially gas) in the building sector and provide energy at stable prices. Solar heat is one of the proven, available, cost-effective measures to use on this path towards carbon neutrality of heating in Europe.

You may have heard about solar district heating, but do you know all the advantages and how it works? As a municipality, do you know the main challenges when it comes to planning and develop such projects?

This webinar series is intended for city officers in charge of renewable energy development, energy planning and energy infrastructures, as well as municipal utilities and local energy communities. In the first webinar, on 17^th May, you will learn about successful examples of solar district heating networks, combining solar collector fields with different technologies (such as biomass boilers, heat pumps and thermal storage tanks). You will also benefit from the hands-on experience from local utilities and municipalities regarding project development.

In the second webinar, on 5^th June, you learn detailed information about practical tips and tricks for the planning process of a solar district heating plant in your city or town, and the key aspects to have in mind before launching processes and tenders. 

Experts contributing to the International Energy Agency work on solar district heating (IEA SHC Task 68 Efficient Solar District Heating) will provide valuable insights to the Covenant Community to foster decarbonisation in your own municipality. Don’t miss this webinar series during which you will be able to ask your questions and receive feedbacks thanks to dedicated discussion moment!

Each session will be moderated by the Covenant of Mayors Office, each presentation of 15 min will be followed by time for questions and discussions.

Agenda Session #1

17^th May – 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM CET – Registration

• Which benefits from solar district heating? Who can use it?, Bärbel Epp, Director of solrico and communication adviser for IEA SHC Task 68
• Which steps for a municipality to launch a solar heating project? Roger Hackstock, Managing Director of Austria Solar
• How to reach 90% renewable energy in district heating? The experience from the municipal company of Salaspils (Latvia), Ina Bērziņa-Veita, Managing Director of Salaspils Siltums