Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SecRHC-ETIP2022-2025 (Secretariat of the European Technology and Innovation Platform on Renewable Heatingand Cooling in 2022-2025)
Período documentado: 2024-03-01 hasta 2025-11-30
This project supports the long‑standing work of the RHC‑ETIP secretariat, which since 2009 has coordinated stakeholders in implementing a research and innovation strategy to accelerate the uptake of renewable heating and cooling in line with EU climate objectives. The secretariat organises meetings, events, consultations and prepares technical and policy documents to strengthen the visibility of the sector and provide consensus‑based strategic advice to the SET Plan, including its upcoming update.
The project reinforces efforts to broaden the platform’s membership by involving national‑level policymakers, additional market actors on the demand side, and socioeconomic experts. It also places stronger emphasis on industry through the launch of the RHC Accelerator and development of an RHC industrial strategy. By facilitating structured cooperation between industry, research, academia, and complementary sectors, SecRHC‑ETIP2022‑2025 supports the growth and competitiveness of the RHC sector within the broader energy landscape.
The project was established to support the achievement of the following goals:
- Increasing the profile and the role of RHC in the process of decarbonisation of the energy system
- Speeding up the uptake of RHC technologies and stepping up to the challenge of the entire industry with a special focus on industrial and manufacturing capacity, new manufacturing procedures and addressing supply chains (incl. related risks)
- Focusing on accelerating projects on the ground, replication, and developing bankability of the projects
The project reinforces efforts to broaden the platform’s membership by involving national‑level policymakers, additional market actors on the demand side, and socioeconomic experts. It also places stronger emphasis on industry through the launch of the RHC Accelerator and development of an RHC industrial strategy. By facilitating structured cooperation between industry, research, academia, and complementary sectors, SecRHC‑ETIP2022‑2025 supports the growth and competitiveness of the RHC sector within the broader energy landscape.
The project was established to support the achievement of the following goals:
- Increasing the profile and the role of RHC in the process of decarbonisation of the energy system
- Speeding up the uptake of RHC technologies and stepping up to the challenge of the entire industry with a special focus on industrial and manufacturing capacity, new manufacturing procedures and addressing supply chains (incl. related risks)
- Focusing on accelerating projects on the ground, replication, and developing bankability of the projects
To achieve these objectives, the project has implemented several major activities in RP2, including:
1. Establishment of five national experts' groups to launch discussions mirroring the RHC-ETIP’s approach in five selected countries (Poland, Sweden, Germany, France, and Croatia).
2. Organisation of 14 roundtable events to closely inform national experts on the ongoing work of the RHC-ETIP, to exchange knowledge, and receive feedback on the RHC-ETIP expert documents, and to also engage national stakeholders in discussions about the ongoing H&C transition within their region.
3. Review of SRIA feeding into “RHC-ETIP's priority topics for the Horizon Europe's Work Programme 2026 & 2027” with the expert document sent to the European Commission's DG RTD
4. Interaction with other ETIPs and further relevant initiatives. Participation and active contribution to the activities of the ETIPs Forum were ensured and contributions of RHC-ETIP were provided to the following documents: joint ETIPs report analysing the R&I dimension of NECPs, joint ETIPs report on Skills and jobs in the RE sectors, CST4ALL online workshop on heat pumps hybridisation, CST4ALL final event discussion panel, contribution to and endorsement of SRIA on Hybrid Energy Storage developed under the coordination of the StoRIES project, contribution to the joint ETIPs workshop organised by ETIPs FORUM in March 2025, and others.
5. Establishment of new links with relevant groups, while other ongoing collaborations have continued. These include structured cooperation with European Partnerships (CETPartnership TRI4, Driving Urban Transitions Partnership), collaborative platforms (Smart Cities Marketplace, Energy Cities, ECTP, Cool Heating Coalition), industry associations (COGEN Europe), and IEA Technology Collaboration Programmes.
6. Publication of three position papers by the Social Sciences and Humanities for RHC Horizontal Working Group
7. Launch of the RHC Accelerator and its integration in the RHC-ETIP website
8. Work within the Focus Group on Heating and Cooling of the Smart Cities Marketplace, publication of the District Heating and Cooling Solution Booklet and organisation of two topic-specific webinars and a City Course as a solution-oriented capacity-building event.
9. Publication of the RHC industrial strategy laying out a comprehensive framework for enhancing funding for production facilities made in Europe, streamlining permitting regulations, ensuring a skilled workforce and fortifying energy infrastructure for renewable heating and cooling.
10. Participation to ETIP SNET Governing Board meetings and feedback for the preparation of their reports.
11. Organisation of regular Board, HWG and Technology panel meetings to present and discuss relevant topics for the RHC uptake and to allow members to provide news on recent developments which the EC and MS representatives use to define research programmes and financial instruments.
12. Organisation of the annual 100% RHC events in Graz 2024 (within ISEC 2024) and in Brussels in 2025.
13. Development and publishing of a series of interview-styled videos with RHC industry leaders where they share their success stories, strategies for the energy transition and overcoming challenges.
1. Establishment of five national experts' groups to launch discussions mirroring the RHC-ETIP’s approach in five selected countries (Poland, Sweden, Germany, France, and Croatia).
2. Organisation of 14 roundtable events to closely inform national experts on the ongoing work of the RHC-ETIP, to exchange knowledge, and receive feedback on the RHC-ETIP expert documents, and to also engage national stakeholders in discussions about the ongoing H&C transition within their region.
3. Review of SRIA feeding into “RHC-ETIP's priority topics for the Horizon Europe's Work Programme 2026 & 2027” with the expert document sent to the European Commission's DG RTD
4. Interaction with other ETIPs and further relevant initiatives. Participation and active contribution to the activities of the ETIPs Forum were ensured and contributions of RHC-ETIP were provided to the following documents: joint ETIPs report analysing the R&I dimension of NECPs, joint ETIPs report on Skills and jobs in the RE sectors, CST4ALL online workshop on heat pumps hybridisation, CST4ALL final event discussion panel, contribution to and endorsement of SRIA on Hybrid Energy Storage developed under the coordination of the StoRIES project, contribution to the joint ETIPs workshop organised by ETIPs FORUM in March 2025, and others.
5. Establishment of new links with relevant groups, while other ongoing collaborations have continued. These include structured cooperation with European Partnerships (CETPartnership TRI4, Driving Urban Transitions Partnership), collaborative platforms (Smart Cities Marketplace, Energy Cities, ECTP, Cool Heating Coalition), industry associations (COGEN Europe), and IEA Technology Collaboration Programmes.
6. Publication of three position papers by the Social Sciences and Humanities for RHC Horizontal Working Group
7. Launch of the RHC Accelerator and its integration in the RHC-ETIP website
8. Work within the Focus Group on Heating and Cooling of the Smart Cities Marketplace, publication of the District Heating and Cooling Solution Booklet and organisation of two topic-specific webinars and a City Course as a solution-oriented capacity-building event.
9. Publication of the RHC industrial strategy laying out a comprehensive framework for enhancing funding for production facilities made in Europe, streamlining permitting regulations, ensuring a skilled workforce and fortifying energy infrastructure for renewable heating and cooling.
10. Participation to ETIP SNET Governing Board meetings and feedback for the preparation of their reports.
11. Organisation of regular Board, HWG and Technology panel meetings to present and discuss relevant topics for the RHC uptake and to allow members to provide news on recent developments which the EC and MS representatives use to define research programmes and financial instruments.
12. Organisation of the annual 100% RHC events in Graz 2024 (within ISEC 2024) and in Brussels in 2025.
13. Development and publishing of a series of interview-styled videos with RHC industry leaders where they share their success stories, strategies for the energy transition and overcoming challenges.
The project delivered results that go beyond the state of the art in coordinating, informing, and mobilising stakeholders within the RHC‑ETIP. It strengthened the platform’s role as a central interface aligning R&I and market needs across RHC technologies and supporting wider SET Plan processes. Stakeholder engagement was improved through structured cooperation with ETIPs, SET Plan IWGs, industry, and research bodies, fostering a more coherent European R&I landscape for heating and cooling. The project also reinforced the visibility and knowledge‑sharing functions of RHC‑ETIP through upgraded communication tools, the RHC Accelerator, improved dissemination formats, and targeted events on priority topics, increasing access to expert knowledge and creating new opportunities for cross‑sector dialogue.