The RHC-Platform press pack provides a comprehensive range of background information.

Transcription

1 Welcome to the 5 th Annual Event of the RHC-Platform 2030 Reasons to integrate Renewable Heating and Cooling. Innovation, Technology Development, and Market Uptake. The RHC-Platform press pack provides a comprehensive range of background information. Website Information about this event and the platform is available online: Further information: Alexandra Latham, Communication Officer, EGEC (a.latham@egec.org) Secretariat of the RHC-Platform: EUREC Renewable Energy House Rue d'arlon B-1040 Brussels Belgium Tel: Fax: info(at)rhc-platform.org

2 Table of Content Contents 5th Annual Event: 2030 Reasons to integrate Renewable Heating and Cooling. Innovation, Technology Development, and Market Uptake The European Technology Platform on Renewable Heating and Cooling (RHC- Platform) FACT SHEET... 4 The Solar Thermal Panel... 6 The Geothermal Panel... 7 The Biomass Panel... 8 The Cross-Cutting Panel... 9 Publications Common Technology Roadmap for Renewable Heating and Cooling Solar Thermal Technology Roadmap Geothermal Technology Roadmap Biomass Technology Roadmap Cross Cutting Technology Roadmap Strategic Research Priorities for Solar Thermal Technology Strategic Research Priorities for Geothermal Technology Strategic Research Priorities for Biomass Technology Strategic Research Priorities for Cross Cutting Technology... 15

3 5th Annual Event: 2030 Reasons to integrate Renewable Heating and Cooling. Innovation, Technology Development, and Market Uptake. Renewable heating and cooling (RHC) technologies can significantly contribute to the decrease of fossil fuel imports into the European Union, improve energy efficiency, and reduce GHG emissions. They will be vital to decarbonise the heat sector, which represents roughly half of the final energy demand in the EU. To implement the EU 2020 targets as well as the 2030 climate and energy framework currently under discussion in a costefficient way, we must tap their full potential. This will require, however, the development of reliable, efficient and affordable technology. What is the annual event of the RHC platform? A joint consultation and policy-event The morning session will be the presentation of the RHC-Platform Common Technology Roadmap to a wide range of stakeholders. In the afternoon, industry and decision-makers will discuss the role of RHC in the transformation of the energy system with a particular focus on the implementation of the current legislation and the Commission s proposal for a 2030 climate and policy framework. Agenda The agenda can be downloaded at Who is the event for? Policy makers (European Commission, European Parliament, International bodies, national and regional governments) Energy Companies Construction sector Trade associations All members of the RHC platform Scientists and researchers NGOs active in energy Practical information The event is free of charge. It will be held at the State representation of Baden-Württemberg on the 22 nd May, 9:30-17:30, followed by a cocktail reception until 19:00

4 The European Technology Platform on Renewable Heating and Cooling (RHC-Platform) FACT SHEET Background The European Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan is the main energy technology policy framework for the European Union. It was developed by the European Commission to accelerate the deployment of low-carbon energy technologies. It recognises the essential role of renewable energy sources for heating and cooling in the EU strategy to improve the security of energy supply and to foster a competitive edge in the related highly innovative industries. As a related initiative, the European Technology Platforms (ETPs) were set up as industry-led stakeholder forums to deliver medium to long-term research and technological strategies and develop related roadmaps. Officially endorsed by the European Commission in October 2008, the European Technology Platform on Renewable Heating & Cooling (RHC- Platform) evolved from the European Solar Thermal Technology Platform (ESTTP) and now covers the biomass, geothermal and solar thermal sectors. Objectives Defining the overall common Vision for the short, medium- and long-term evolution of renewable energy technologies for heating and cooling in Europe. Developing the shared Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) to establish the technological research and strategic priorities to maintain Europe s scientific and industrial leadership in the renewable heating and cooling sector. Determining and implementing a roadmap to encourage the large scale development and deployment of renewable heating and cooling in Europe

5 Structure The scope and operational structure of the RHC-Platform have been designed to ensure a balanced and active participation from the major stakeholders. The RHC-Platform secretariat is managed by four major European organizations: EUREC, AEBIOM, EGEC and ESTIF. The work of each Technology Panel is coordinated by a Steering Committee. The Board is the highest decision-making body of the RHC-Platform and it is composed of 15 representatives from the Steering Committees of the Technology Panels.

6 The Solar Thermal Panel The European Solar Thermal Technology Platform (ESTTP) was launched in June This was initiated by the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) to help accelerate the development of solar thermal technology across Europe. The ESTTP is now one of the technology panels of the RHC-Platform and has contributed to the common work done by the RHC-Platform, while keeping a focus on the solar thermal technology, redefining and advocating for its Strategic Research Priorities, among other activities. A Steering Committee coordinates the work of the European Solar Thermal Technology Panel (ESTTP) and its secretariat is managed by ESTIF. As early as 2006, the ESTTP formulated its 2030 vision for low-temperature solar thermal and at the end of 2008 a Strategic Research Agenda "Solar Heating and Cooling for a Sustainable Energy Future in Europe" was published. In February 2013, the ESTTP issued a new document on the potential for technological development in solar heating and cooling up to 2050: The Strategic Research Priorities for Solar Thermal Technology. The Solar Heating and Cooling Technology Roadmap, also developed by the ESTTP, will be issued in This document represents an important milestone in the implementation of the Solar Thermal Strategic Research Priorities, as well as the RHC-Platform Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda. Solar Thermal Technology Solar thermal is based on a simple principle: the sun heats up a liquid which acts as a heat transfer medium. This basic principle is more relevant and promising than ever in the current energetic climate where heating and cooling account for nearly 50% of Europe s energy demand. Solar thermal has been used for thousands of years before the first solar domestic hot water systems were built at the beginning of the 20 th century in California. Solar thermal is a mature proven technology with a broad range of uses. However, some applications are more wide-spread than others. Systems for domestic hot water production are the most common and increasingly combi systems using circulation pumps provide solar thermal energy for space heating. Moreover, solar thermal is progressively being used in other high potential market segments, such as solar assisted cooling, industrial process heat and solar district heating.

7 The Geothermal Panel The geothermal panel of the RHC-Platform was launched in The setting up of a Geothermal Panel was a very important step to help accelerate the development of geothermal technology so that it can quickly become a significant energy resource in Europe. The panel firstly formulated a 2030 vision for the geothermal heating and cooling sector, detailing the contribution the geothermal sector can make in a 100% Renewable heating and cooling scenario in Europe. The Geothermal Panel also presented in 2012 the strategic research priorities for geothermal to reach ambitious objectives, notably in cost reduction. The Geothermal Technology Panel is composed of three Focus Groups: 1. Shallow geothermal heat pump systems 2. Deep geothermal 3. Non technological issues Whilst the work of the panel is coordinated by a Steering Committee, its secretariat is managed by the European Geothermal Energy Council EGEC. Finally, in 2014, the geothermal panel publish its first roadmap to implement the research activities. As we move from the FP7 programme to Horizon 2020, the work of the Geothermal panel will be crucial to underline the important role Geothermal energy will play to answer challenges of the building sector and especially retrofitting/renovating and to provide affordable energy to make the industry more competitive. Geothermal energy: Geothermal energy is energy in the form of heat beneath the surface of the earth. It has been used since antiquity for heating, and for about 100 years for electricity generation. Its potential is inexhaustible in human terms, comparable to that of the sun. Besides electric power generation, geothermal energy is used today for district heating, process heat, balneology etc. as well as for heating (and cooling) of buildings. The largest geothermal district heating systems within Europe can be found in the Paris and Munich areas, with Austria, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia and other countries showing a substantial number of interesting geothermal district heating systems. Sweden, Switzerland, Germany and Austria are the leading countries in terms of market for geothermal heat pumps in Europe.

8 The Biomass Panel The Biomass Technology Panel was launched on 15 April 2009 with the aim to accelerate the market deployment of biomass-to-heat technology in Europe. While the work of the panel is coordinated by a Steering Committee, its secretariat is managed by the European Biomass Association AEBIOM. The Steering Committee of the biomass panel is composed of four Issue Groups: 1. Biomass fuels (whole supply chain) 2. Technologies for residential heating 3. Technologies for industries and district heating 4. Non technological issues (markets, policies, communication and training) In 2010, the panel published a Vision document, setting the sector s objectives for 2020, 2030 and The Strategic Research Priorities for Biomass Technology were published in April 2012, identifying the sector s research needs to increase the use of biomass for heating purposes in Europe. In the upcoming implementation phase, the Biomass Panel will deliver a Technology Roadmap, which will outline the implementation and funding of the biomass research priorities. The aim of these activities is to emphasize the need for increased R&D - not only for transport biofuels and bioelectricity but also in the heating sector. Biomass for heat Biomass, such as wood, agricultural residues, manure, or organic waste, is transformed into renewable heat through various transformation processes, such as combustion, gasification, and pyrolysis. Combustion of solid woody biomass for heat production is the main bioenergy route in the world, with a constant drive for improved efficiency and reduced pollutant emissions. Several technologies can be considered, varying with size: small-scale heating systems for households typically use firewood or pellets in stoves or boilers. Medium-scale users typically burn wood chips in grate boilers, while largescale boilers are able to burn a larger variety of fuels, including wood waste and refuse-derived fuel. Heat can also be produced on a medium or large scale through cogeneration which provides heat for industrial processes in the form of steam or supply district heat networks.

9 The Cross-Cutting Panel The Cross-cutting Technology Panel (CCP) was launched in September 2009 with the aim of discussing and analysing strategic research priorities in technological areas which would allow a higher integration and take-up of renewable energy sources into the heating and cooling systems. Four key energy technologies have been identified: District Heating and Cooling increases the overall efficiency of the energy system by recycling heat losses from a variety of energy conversion processes. By aggregating a large number of small and variable heating and cooling demands, District Heating and District Cooling allow energy flows from multiple RES to be combined while reducing primary energy demand and carbon emissions in the community served Thermal energy storage is the solution for a key bottleneck against the widespread and integrated use of RES, since the renewable supply does not always coincide with the demand for heating or cooling. Numerous technologies in sensible, latent or thermochemical form can time-shift renewable energy supply to periods of greatest demand, each of them characterised by different specifications and specific advantages. Heat pumps transform thermal renewable energy available at low temperatures from natural surroundings to heat at higher temperatures. The heat pump cycle can be also used to provide cooling. Heat pumps use aerothermal, hydrothermal and geothermal energy, and can be combined with heat from other RES in hybrid systems Hybrid renewable energy systems, combining two or more energy sources into a single system, can overcome the limitations of individual technologies. The combination of RES available at different times within the system is especially useful if a more constant demand for heat exists.all these are key enabling technologies to realize the Common Vision of the RHC-Platform, which outlines how the European heating and cooling sector could be fully decarbonized by The structure of the cross-cutting panel is such to enable a certain flexibility so as to include other common subjects which might become of interest to the sectoral panels at a later stage. The Cross-Cutting Technology Panel is composed of three Focus Groups and is managed by the EUREC - The Association of Renewable Energy Centres 1. District Heating and Cooling 2. Thermal Energy Storage 3. Renewable energy Hybrid Systems and Heat Pumps

10 Publications Common Technology Roadmap for Renewable Heating and Cooling It is very well known that heating and cooling is responsible for almost 50% of the final energy demand in Europe. The extensive use of renewable heating and cooling technologies is therefore, in combination with a strong increase in efficiency, crucial to secure Europe s energy supply in a sustainable way. After publishing the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for Renewable Heating and Cooling Technologies in 2013, the RHC-Platform developed this implementation roadmap based on more detailed roadmaps of it s solar thermal, bio energy, geothermal and cross cutting panels. The roadmap describes the top priority research topics with the highest impact on the societal challenges in Europe until It is obvious that after neglecting the potential of renewable heating and cooling technologies over decades there is a strong need to increase the research budgets for the sector significantly. The panel roadmaps and this common roadmap provide a good assumption of topics and budgets needed. Energy systems in the future will be much more integrated than today. The heating and cooling sector will be interconnected with the electricity sector by combined heat and power plants, heat pumps and power to heat technologies. The energy system will become smart and electricity will play an increased role in the heating sector as well. However, thermal energy supplied by solar thermal, bio energy and geothermal will remain dominant in the heating and cooling sector due to high efficiency and cost competitiveness especially by covering the heating demand in winter time. The research and development actions described in this roadmap will enable the RHC-technologies to play its in important role in the energy sector. Also within the heating and cooling sector the smart integration of technologies in high efficient systems is an important trend. The RHC- Platform is covering all renewable heating and cooling technologies and identified the synergy effects by combining these technologies in an optimal way and could therefore be a blue print for a common approach in the electricity sector. The cross cutting panel, for example, worked on optimized hybrid systems and enabling technologies like innovative thermal storage, cooling and smart district heating technologies. As pointed out in the European Commission s Energy Roadmap 2050, RHC is undoubtedly vital to decarbonisation [1]. However, decarbonising our energy sector should not be regarded as a burden, but rather as an opportunity for Europe s sustainable growth and industrial renaissance alike. [1] European Commission, Energy Roadmap 2050, COM (2011) 885, 2011, p.11.

11 For instance, clear pledges on RHC and energy efficiency for the implementation of the RHC Common Vision will substantially alleviate EU s energy dependency, while improving our balance of trade. Indeed from 2020 onwards, the EU could save every year as much as 21.8 billion in reduced fossil fuel imports compared to the year Additionally, enabling policies on RHC will contribute creating a significant amount of new local jobs and ensure stable and affordable energy prices to our consumers and industries against volatile and costly alternatives. Increasing the share of RHC in the EU fuel mix will also be an important alternative to help improving the urban environment conditions. Indeed, a reduction in emissions of pollutants from reduced fossil fuel consumption has significant positive impacts on human health, lowers costs for air pollution control and can contribute to reduce the annual GHG emissions by 343 MtCO 2 eq. in 2020 compared to 2005 levels. Attracting private investments is critical in decarbonising the heating and cooling sector. This publication presents both benefits and barriers that private investors face when they approach RHC technologies and analyses how supporting stable investment environment, improving risk perception and addressing standardization aspects can influence the scaling up of private investments. Furthermore, a wide spectrum of financial instruments and business models can be applied to overcome high upfront costs and other barriers that hinder RHC deployment. Given the public funding is limited, it is key to use available resources for leveraging private financing, where public intervention multiples private lending Solar Thermal Technology Roadmap Experts from the solar heating and cooling sector came together in the Solar Thermal Technology Panel of the Renewable Heating and Cooling Technology Platform to develop the Solar Thermal Technology Roadmap. This document represents the blueprint crucial for a successful implementation of the Solar Thermal Strategic Research Priorities, as well as the RHC-Platform Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda. The main objective of this technology roadmap is to ensure that informed decisions are made to meet some important 2020 societal challenges. Therefore, it focuses on three major areas such as: industrial applications, retrofitting opportunities and the new-build sector, and the NZEBs (Nearly- Zero Energy Buildings). The solution to these challenges could be provided, respectively, with: Solar heat for industrial processes (SHIP), solar compact hybrid heating systems (SCOHYS) and the solar active house (SAH). These are considered relevant contributions that the solar thermal technology can make towards the reduction of green house gas emissions, energy costs and energy security. These proposed solutions will also play an important role in the future

12 competitiveness of the sector and will help to place solar thermal among the main renewable heating and cooling options in the market. Thus, the technology roadmap will form the basis for strategic planning as well as decision-making related to the SHC sector, and the reference document for the Research & Innovation efforts needed until Geothermal Technology Roadmap Geothermal energy has the characteristics to play a crucial role in our future energy mix: decarbonised, providing affordable energy for society, and allowing competitiveness of European industry. Geothermal heating & cooling can supply energy at different temperatures (low or high temperature), at different loads (it can be base load and flexible) and for different demand (heat and cold: less than 10 kwth to a tenth of a MWth). Geothermal will be a key energy source both in smart cities and in smart rural communities, being able to supply both Heating and Cooling (H&C) and electricity as well as solutions for smart thermal and electricity grids via underground thermal storage. The technological challenges for an accelerated deployment of geothermal heating & cooling across Europe are to develop innovative solutions especially for refurbishing existing buildings, but also for zero and plus energy buildings, as the system is easier to install and more efficient at low temperature for both heating & cooling. Secondly, to develop geothermal District Heating (DH) systems in dense urban areas at low temperature with emphasis in the deployment of Enhanced Geothermal Systems. Finally, the third goal is to contribute to the decarbonisation of the industry by providing competitive solutions for heating & cooling. Biomass Technology Roadmap The Biomass Technology roadmap highlights a number of actions and investments required for the implementation of the Biomass Strategic Research priorities in the short term (up to 2020), with a focus on ensuring the market deployment of technically reliable, environmentally-friendly and costcompetitive biomass-based Heating and Cooling solutions for different types of consumers. Since biomass conversion technologies cannot be developed at large scale on a stand-alone basis, the roadmap adopts a value chain approach, emphasising that priorities should consider the entire supply chain, from the sourcing of the biomass resources (with a particular focus on waste and residue streams) to the transformation of the biomass and its conversion into heat (and electricity), including the logistical aspects needed to transport the biomass or the energy carrier.

13 This value chain approach addresses first the replacing of coal, fossil oil and natural gas in heat and CHP production with advanced biomass fuels (new biocommodities, thermally treated biomass fuels, fast pyrolysis bio-oil and upgraded biogas), including the provision of adequate feedstock at competitive production costs. The three main conversion technologies considered are: Cost and energy efficient micro and small scale CHP; High efficient large-scale or industrial steam CHP; High efficient conversion systems for tri-generation. The Biomass Technology roadmap also provides an indication of the R&D budgets needed to implement the individual research, development and demonstration activities described in the document, as well as relevant key performance indicators to monitor their technological and economic success. Cross Cutting Technology Roadmap With this Cross-cutting Technology Roadmap, the RHC-Platform accomplishes one more of its core objectives: establishing a detailed implementation plan for the The Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, defining how the combined spending of public and private resources should be strategically distributed among topics with commercial relevance in the short, medium and long term. All R&D activities on cross-cutting technologies described in this document should be accompanied and supported by 2020, however the RHC-Platform recommends that policy makers allocate the budgets of European and national programmes according to an order of priorities which takes into account the readiness and proven interest of EU industry and research stakeholders to take part in the relevant R&D activities. The Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for Renewable Heating and Cooling The Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda identifies the research and innovation activities and investments needed to make RHC technologies costcompetitive in all market segments (residential, non-residential, and industrial) in the short term (by 2020) and in the medium term (by 2030). More specifically: It provides a comprehensive view of the strategic research and innovation priorities to enable an increasing share of H&C to be supplied by RES. Identifies state-of-the-art, research objectives and critical targets (eg in terms of performance increase / cost reduction) to realise the potential of RHC technology.

14 Sets up recommendations for R&D&D funding in the timeframe of Horizon 2020 and in line with the wider EU 2030 Energy and Climate Framework. The implementation of the SRIA technological and non-technological priorities will be crucial towards a strong push for a renewable energy paradigm, providing European citizens with affordable and sustainable heating and cooling Strategic Research Priorities for Solar Thermal Technology As a result of solar thermal technology developments over recent years, as well as the rapid growth of the renewable energy sector, boosted by the support of political instruments at European and national level, there was a strong call for an update of the Strategic Research Agenda published by the European Solar Thermal Technology Platform in This updated version constitutes the Strategic Research Priorities for Solar Thermal Technology and it is the outcome of the joint effort from the ESTTP members and is the most up-to-date overview of crucial solar thermal R&D priorities and is therefore a very important basis for the development of the solar thermal sector. Strategic Research Priorities for Geothermal Technology The key challenges for the widespread use of geothermal heat: Shallow geothermal: Integration of geothermal energy in standard housing energy systems Develop Heating & Cooling smart grids integrating Geothermal HP and Underground Thermal Energy Storage Develop geothermal solutions for retrofitting of existing infrastructure Deep geothermal: Exploit favourable geological basins for deep geothermal energy at their full capacity (District Heating, Industrial process heat, balneology etc.) Deployment of Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) technology: at places where no natural geothermal resources in form of steam or hot water exist, the heat of the rock can be used by creating artificial systems for extracting the heat from the earth. Strategic Research Priorities for Biomass Technology Biomass is the most important short-medium term source of renewable heating and cooling and to unlock its full potential, substantial research and development activities are required. To secure future biomass supply, sustainable and efficient supply chains for biomass, including residues and wastes, must be developed, implying research in cultivation and harvesting practices, logistics, as well as processing and upgrading technologies. Fuel and load flexible biomass boilers need to be developed and significant improvements in terms of emissions and efficiency are still required for

15 biomass combustion technologies at all scales. Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems must be further developed to enhance the efficient use biomass. Small and micro scale CHP constitutes a high energy efficient solution. Co-generation and tri-generation (heat-power-cold) are promising concepts for industry and DHC networks. Highly efficient large-scale or industrial CHP with enhanced availability and increased high temperature heat potential should be developed. Strategic Research Priorities for Cross Cutting Technology This document provides recommendations to policy makers on how to allocate the budgets of European and national programmes aimed at supporting research and development and stimulating market pull. In particular, the SRA can be used as input for the identification of the most appropriate areas to fund under the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Development of the European Union, as well as guidance for the definition of its successor programme Horizon Achieving decarbonisation of the heating and cooling sector is a challenging policy goal due to the large number of individual decision-makers and to the fact that the industry is large, diverse and fragmented. The development of this sector can be spurred not only through technological advancement, but also by the regulatory framework which has nurtured the Europe s renewable electricity industry. For this reason, this document also sheds light on a number of non-technological priorities which are a prerequisite for the transition to a low-carbon society - a key strategic objective of the European Union. Common Vision for the Renewable Heating and Cooling sector in Europe: The report Common Vision for the Renewable Heating and Cooling Sector in Europe is the first official publication of the RHC-Platform. Launched in May 2011, the study identifies major technological and non-technological challenges to the uptake of the RH&C systems and assesses the potential of renewable energy sources to contribute to the European and national energy needs and targets. Heating accounts for a significant proportion of Europe s energy demand. To achieve the Common Vision targets, efficiency gains are required in both residential heating and industrial processes, better use of thermal energy being crucial for meeting the 2020 renewable energy targets and Europe s 2050 target of a 80-95% reduction in GHG emissions. Also, cooling demand is expected to rise significantly in the next years in spite of greater use of energysaving measures like insulation.