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

RenewableHeating & CoolingEuropean Technology PlatformSet up a Joint European Renewable Heating and Cooling programmeIn Europe, the strategic development of a research infrastructure for RHC is key forimplementing the activities described in this RHC-SRA.The establishment of a “Joint European Renewable Heating and Cooling Programme” wouldallow the exploitation and valorisation of the competences existing in differentparts of Europe, bringing together a critical mass of research institutes and companiesactive in renewable energy technology, on storage, refrigeration, process heat etc.While infrastructures for R&D and testing should ideally be set up at European levelin the Joint Programme, a small number of Renewable Cooling Development Centres shouldalso be set up at national or regional level in high potential regions such as the Mediterraneanbasin and Southern Balkans.The RHC-Platform also recommends the establishment of a virtual or real “EuropeanInstitute for Thermal Energy Storage” composed of a broad research infrastructure,including testing equipment, which is necessary to meet the huge challenges of thisstrategically important technology. A wide exchange programme for master and PhDstudents within research institutes in all Member States should create the basis fora European-wide network of scientists working in this field.8.2 Education, training and certificationIn order to ensure the successful market deployment of RHC technologies, effortsare required to consolidate and harmonise certification, training and educationprogrammes at European level for practitioners, technicians, engineers and scientists. Suchprogrammes should be revised as advances in technology take place, and shouldbe founded on environmental sustainability. Training programmes in Europe need tobe increased significantly, not only at university level, but also on professional level.The potential of the labour force has to be deeply studied for the optimization of education,the requalification of employees and vocational training. The market deployment of RHCtechnologies will create demand for experts and trained engineers for the manufacturing,installing and maintenance of the systems. The increasing imbalance between people retiringand the inflow of young people to the European labour market in general constitutes afuture challenge that could hinder the sector’s development. Without proper measures, thiswill cause a shortage of scientific and technical experts. Future needs in the fields of graduate,post-graduate, life-long, and professional training are assessed in the framework of theSET-Plan European Energy Education and Training Initiative recently launched by theEuropean Commission. This initiative covers 10 energy related sectors with the objective todeliver the quantity and quality of human resources required for the achievement of theambitious European climate and energy targets for 2020. Thereby, suitable integration ofRHC in graduate, post-graduate, life-long, and professional training shall be ensured atEuropean level.Professional training must respond to the needs of the heating and cooling industry.For the geothermal sector, training programmes are not comparable or compatibleacross Europe and are not adapted to the sector’s requirements in terms of content, mainlybecause of the lack of specific materials and regulations. The adaptation ofprofessional profiles to the requirements of the RHC sector and particularly to thoseof European legislation (EU 2009b) should address:• Setting up a stable structure to enable the transfer of geothermal technology andknow-how from international (scientific) sources.• Producing a handbook of professional competencies or strategic professionalqualifications, including a list of the necessary profiles required by the geothermal sector.• Updating the existing technical guides and Codes of Best Practices, using as a basis Europeanbenchmarks to be adapted to the inherent characteristics of each country.• Fostering piloting training initiatives geared at drillers and equipment installers based onprevious European project models.79