The current stage of the implementation of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) was widely discussed at the last meeting of the ESTTP Steering Committee, on the 23rd of January, as well as at the meeting of the RHC-ETIP Board, on the 24th of January.

The current implementation does not include Renewable Heating & Cooling. This issue has been discussed between experts from the Renewable Heating & Cooling sector and the European Commission, without success until this point.

The European Commission is trying to include RES-HC in this plan, also following requests from Members States. This task seems strangely hard. One of the possible reasons lies with the genesis of the plan, mainly focused on power generation. In its current form it also covers transport and energy efficiency, both in buildings and industry. Though the RES part is fully focused on power generation.

In the meantime, the efforts of the RHC-ETIP have provided results in terms of including the so-called cross-cutting technologies, including storage, district heating and heat pumps.

In several moments the feedback from EC was that they were considering (or even working) on the RES-HC part. Though it is not yet clear when and how it shall be done.

This might have dire consequences in terms of the R&I funding channelled into renewable heating and cooling.

Being clearly an unacceptable situation, the RHC-ETIP and the ESTTP leaders will continue to look into ways to obviate the problem. Though the support of other players, at national level, to help solve this situation is needed.

In case you are interested in knowing how to help the RHC-ETIP and the ESTTP addressing these issues, please contact the ESTIF secretariat.