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Small stories and big news for those committed to a locally-driven energy transition.
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Exploring barriers and levers to decarbonise heating and cooling systems
Looking back to one year of experience sharing
Throughout 2021, Energy Cities organised learning labs with ten cities on the topic of fossil-free districts and cities, with the support of the European Climate […]
Europe is sitting on a goldmine of unaccounted for renewable energy
Our VP Stephan Brandligt's column on EURACTIV
The energy price crisis is creating fierce political debates over the block’s energy security with renewed pushes for centralised energy supply solutions such as hydrogen […]
“It can feel to people like everything is against them.”
Interview with Prof. Dr. Lucie Middlemiss about energy poor and why they should be involved in policy-making
On cold days, fierce winds blow through poorly insulated windows in Leeds. It travels through the over hundred high-rise buildings built in the 60s’ and […]
An urban heating network puts Lille at the heart of the ecological and energy transition
Supplying the heating network with energy recovered from waste: a local, sustainable energy source
Since late 2020, the heating network of the European Metropolis of Lille (France) has been supplying domestic hot water and heat to public facilities such […]
The perfect match of data and heat planning
Cities need data to make sustainable and cost-efficient decisions
The role of heating in achieving a reduction target of 55% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 is increasing. The recast Energy Efficiency Directive, as […]
For cities to achieve their decarbonisation, they need greater staff resources
Our recommendations for cities to realise their heating planning and implement decarbonisation projects
Cities’ employees are the architects of the local energy transition. The lack of human resources is currently one of the main barriers to the decarbonisation […]
Why and how fossil fuels in buildings will be history by 2050
Read our new policy paper for fossil-free districts and cities!
By 2050, fossil fuels in cities will hopefully be history. Renewable technologies that are already available, such as heat pumps and heat networks, will make […]
Understanding, planning and combating urban heat islands
Cities are adapting to climate conditions and taking action to bring down local temperatures.
With summer approaching, we all remember the high temperatures that we have suffered in recent years. Energy Cities has tested several possible solutions: creating draught, […]
Towards fossil-free districts and cities
Our virtual City Learning Labs inspires cities to phase out fossil fuels for heating & cooling
Burning things has been the go-to solution for thousands of years to keep our buildings warm. Now, faced with the immense challenge of becoming climate-neutral […]
Energy Cities endorses Cities Manifesto for Fossil-Free Heating and Cooling
New European initiative calls on EU & Member States to put cities in the driving seat of a fossil-free heat transition
In mid-July, the EU will issue key proposals to address heat decarbonisation – the so-called “Fit for 55” package. It is a critical moment, as […]
Baden Württemberg set on achieving its heating and cooling decarbonisation
In European cities, most of our energy consumption is used for heating and cooling. If cities want to reach their target of climate neutrality by 2050, they need to start planning how to phase out fossil fuels from heating and cooling now
… And this is what the German region of Baden-Württemberg is determined to do! The Länder recently required all its cities of more than 20 […]
Helsinki Energy Challenge outcomes: an artificial island, salt and a HIVE will help decarbonise heating
Key lessons include involving citizens, market forces and combining existing technology with local resources
The city of Helsinki organised an international projects competition to find future-proof solutions to heat the city and meet its goal of becoming carbon neutral […]
