ENhancing renewable heaT planning for improving the aiR quAlity of commuNities
ENTRAIN project aims at improving the capacities of public authorities to develop and implement local strategies and action plans for enhancing the use of endogenous renewable energy sources in small district heating (DH) networks. This outcome will lead to fossil fuels and CO2 emission reduction, improvement of local air quality and socio-economic benefits for local communities through the growths of technical expertise and the start-up of investments and innovative financial tools.
ENTRAIN main objective is to promote structural cooperation between public authorities and key stakeholders at transnational level and to build-up skills and know-how for a systematic, holistic and efficient planning of small DH systems within 5 target regions (IT, DE, HR, SI, PL), based on renewable heat sources (solar, biomass, waste heat, heat pumps and geothermal).
5 Regional Stakeholders Advisory Groups involving 11 partners, 24 associated partners and local actors will be set up and will be responsible for developing 5 initial surveys and 5 local action plans. Acting as regional and transnational energy networks, they will be crucial for implementation and achievement of ENTRAIN objectives, by involving local and regional authorities, DH utilities, energy and development agencies, consumers.
Heat planning guidelines and quality criteria will be made available, based on knowledge transfer from regions with advanced planning capacities and long term experience in renewable DH (AT, DE), also through an ambitious capacity building programme with 25 training session. ENTRAIN will trigger the initiation of 9 pilot local DH networks and 9 heat planning studies, along with the development of 3 innovative local and regional financing schemes and the adaptation and adoption of the existing Austrian quality management system “QM Holzheizwerke” in at least 3 of the target regions.