National frameworks for renewable heating and cooling

Objective

Supports the establishment of national collaborative platforms that strengthen regulatory and financial frameworks at national and local levels, to facilitate large-scale rollout of on-site heat pumps and solar thermal installations in existing buildings — including in combination with photovoltaic (PV) or photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) systems. Tackles the barriers slowing alternative business models (heating-as-a-service, leasing, all-in offers, community financing, flexibility aggregators) such as permitting, urban and rental regulations, third-party ownership, demand-response valorisation, and the electricity-to-gas price ratio.

Areas of intervention

A proposal must target 3 to 5 LIFE-eligible countries and:

• Assess in detail for each target country the barriers and enabling conditions for alternative business models and financing schemes for on-site heat pumps and solar thermal
• Scope, assess and model for each country the impact of regulatory and non-regulatory options to address those barriers
• Assess options for attracting a broader range of economic actors to deploy heat pumps, solar thermal and PVT and to offer new business models
• Adapt public incentives to alternative business models
• Update existing and create new tools to enhance cost transparency and competition
• Create marketplaces and alliances that increase market transparency and support installers in improving consumer offers

What this means for cities and regions

Operates at national-platform level rather than at single-municipality level — regional energy agencies and city networks typically join the platform alongside national authorities, installers, financiers and aggregators. Consortia of 3 partners from 3 countries; topic budget €6.5M at 95% co-financing.