The PlanHeat project brings together local authorities and expert organisations from seven Baltic Sea Region countries, supporting cities in local heat planning (LHP).
The district heating sector in Europe is responsible for significant greenhouse gas emissions, which not only affect climate change, but also heat prices and air quality. Local heat planning (LHP) is one of the key tools to develop economically viable and climate-neutral district heating transformation pathways at local level.
The 2023 revision of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) introduced a new responsibility for municipalities with populations above 45 000 inhabitants: the development of local heating and cooling plans. However, many municipalities in the Baltic Sea Region are not prepared for such a wide range of activities — they lack the necessary knowledge, resources and awareness.
The PlanHeat project is responding to this challenge by developing an international standard for preparing Local Heat Plans (LHP) in the form of a practical manual.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES:
- Recognition of available solutions: intuitive data collection and technical support systems, information materials, good practices for citizen and stakeholder involvement, recommendations on regulatory, financial and organisational challenges, feasibility studies.
- Capacity building of stakeholders in local heat planning: information events, international knowledge exchange, staff training, expert forums, study visits.
- Creation of an international online information platform on LHP.
- Involvement of private and public organisations in energy-saving activities by establishing strategic dialogues with stakeholders.
- Dissemination of project results at national and international level, including the organisation of a final European conference.
EXPECTED PROJECT RESULTS:
- International manual on how to develop local heat plans — guidelines for conceptualising local heating transformation, consisting of solutions for data access, technology, personnel and skills, stakeholder participation, as well as financial and organisational solutions.
- Enhanced capacities of local government representatives in planning and implementing modernisation measures in the heat supply system.
- Strengthened cooperation of the various stakeholders involved in the heating and district heating sector — e.g. municipalities, local community and the business sector in the field of green transformation.
- Policy recommendations and guidelines on regulatory, financial and organisational issues for local heat planning.
- Developed solutions promoted among municipalities at national and international level.
PROJECT PARTNERS:
- Magistrate of the City of Bremerhaven – lead partner
- ECOLOG Institute for Social-Ecological Research and Education, DE
- City of Bydgoszcz, PL
- National Energy Conservation Agency (NAPE), PL
- The Association of Municipalities Polish Network „Energie Cités” (PNEC), PL
- Alytus City Municipality, LT
- Lithuanian Energy Institute (LEI), LT
- Smiltene Municipality, LV
- Ekodoma Ltd., LV
- Rakvere Soojus Ltd., EE
- Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), EE
- EcoFellows Ltd., FI
- Energy Agency Southern Sweden (ESS), SE
- City of Konin, PL
PROJECT WEBSITE:
https://interreg-baltic.eu/project/planheat/
DURATION: 1 March 2025 – 29 February 2028
FINANSING: Interreg Baltic Sea Region
The project is co-funded by the EU Interreg Baltic Sea Region program. The sole responsibility for the content of this website lies with the PlanHeat project and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.
