Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for Renewable ... - EGEC

1Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for Renewable Heating & CoolingIntroduction1 IntroductionRenewable Energy has proven to be a driving force for Europe’s economic growth andsustainable long-term prosperity. Renewable energy technologies offer a safe, reliable, cleanand increasingly cost-effective solution to all heating and cooling needs, whichaccount for nearly half of the final energy consumption in the European Union.The vast majority of energy supplied for heating and cooling is however still producedby burning fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal – with a severe environmental impactarising from the associated greenhouse gas emissions and posing a risk in terms ofenergy security.It is against this background that in 2008 the European Commission (EC) supported the establishmentthe European Technology Platform on Renewable Heating and Cooling(RHC-Platform) with the aim to create a common framework within which European industryand research stakeholders can define technological research needs and strategic prioritiesto increase the use of renewable energy sources (RES) for heating and cooling and toconsolidate EU technological leadership (Figure 1).Building on the strategies for Europe 2020 and for an Innovation Union, the EC’s proposal forthe next EU framework programme for research and innovation (Horizon 2020) 1 recognisesthe key role of European Technology Platforms (ETPs) as part of the external advice andsocietal engagement to implement Horizon 2020 . The RHC-Platform takes a holistic view ofresearch and innovation priorities related to renewable heating and coolingtechnologies, providing strategic insight into market opportunities and needs, sharing informationwith over 650 stakeholders from 25 EU Countries and mobilising publicand private organisations to work in partnership and deliver on agreed priorities.Figure 1: Structure of the RHC-Platform1European Commission (2013).2