Connecting Technology and People for District Heating and Cooling

The DISCO project brings European regions and stakeholders together to exchange knowledge and strengthen cooperation on district heating and cooling and waste heat utilisation. Through two thematic events in Dublin and Crete, partners explored two key aspects of developing sustainable district heating and cooling solutions: technological opportunities and challenges, and the importance of stakeholder engagement and cooperation.

The first thematic event took place in Dublin, Ireland, in April 2026 and focused on the technological aspects of district heating and cooling. Partners and stakeholders from across Europe came together to exchange experiences on infrastructure, data-driven solutions and the potential to capture and reuse waste heat.

The second thematic event was held in Heraklion, Crete, in October 2026, shifting the focus from technology to stakeholder engagement. Participants explored how different stakeholders can contribute to the development of district heating and cooling solutions and how cooperation between different levels of governance can be strengthened.

Through workshops and international group discussions, DISCO partners compared stakeholder roles across their regions, shared experiences and good practices, and identified barriers and enabling factors.

Connecting technology, people and policy

Together, the two thematic events reflect DISCO's integrated approach to supporting waste heat utilisation. Developing district heating and cooling requires not only appropriate technologies and infrastructure, but also effective cooperation between stakeholders like public authorities, businesses and energy actors.

By bringing partners from different European regions together, DISCO creates opportunities to learn from different approaches, identify solutions that can be adapted to local contexts, and strengthen the capacity of regional and local actors.

The knowledge, experiences and connections developed through the thematic events will continue to support the participating regions in improving policies and exploring new opportunities for more efficient and sustainable use of waste heat.

About the DISCO Project

DISCO, advancing district heating and cooling solutions for efficient waste heat utilization, is an interregional cooperation project co-funded by Interreg Europe. The project brings together 10 partners from across Europe to improve policies and strengthen regional capacity for the utilisation of waste heat through district heating and cooling.

Project website: https://www.interregeurope.eu/disco
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/disco-project