EU Project Advances European Cooperation on Sustainable District Heating and Cooling

The Interreg Europe project “DISCO” has taken important steps toward strengthening sustainable district heating and cooling (DHC) systems across Europe through two transnational meetings held in Aalborg, Denmark (May 2025) and Assen, the Netherlands (December 2025). The meetings brought partners and stakeholders from ten European regions to address critical regulatory, economic and financing challenges linked to the wider utilization of waste heat.

The meetings reflect DISCO’s core mission: to support regional authorities in improving policy instruments and accelerating the deployment of efficient, low-carbon DHC solutions through interregional learning.

From shared challenges to shared solutions

During the meetings, partners discussed common barriers such as high infrastructure costs, limited and fragmented funding schemes on national level without coherency towards EU ambitions, and high entry thresholds for project developers. At the same time, several regions shared examples of strategies, partnerships and financing approaches that have proven successful in their local contexts.

“Across Europe, many regions face similar challenges when it comes to financing district heating and cooling systems. What makes DISCO valuable is that we can openly share both obstacles and solutions, and learn how different approaches can be adapted locally,” says Isabella Katsimenis, project manager at North Sweden Energy Agency, Lead Partner of the DISCO project.

Learning from practice and strengthening policy instruments

Workshops, panel discussions and practical case exchanges allowed partners to compare experiences and reflect on how successful models can support the improvement of regional policy instruments. Site visits and hands-on examples helped connect strategic discussions with real-world implementation.

The interregional exchange confirmed that cooperation between public authorities, energy agencies and market actors is key to turning ambition into action.

Moving forward together

The outcomes of the Aalborg and Assen meetings will now feed into the next phase of the DISCO project, supporting partners in improving regional policies and creating better conditions for sustainable and financially viable DHC systems.

By building on shared knowledge and practical experience, DISCO continues to support Europe’s transition towards more efficient and low-carbon heating and cooling.

For more information

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