PlanHeat
Integrated tool for empowering public authorities in the development of sustainable plans for low carbon heating and cooling
PLANHEAT's main objective was to develop and validate in real case scenarios an integrated and easy-to-use tool which will support local authorities in selecting, simulating and comparing alternative low carbon and economically sustainable scenarios for heating and cooling.
The PLANHEAT integrated tool has been designed to support local authorities in:
- Mapping the potential of locally available low-carbon energy sources
- Mapping the forecasted demand for heating and cooling
- Defining and simulating alternative environmentally friendly scenarios
- Understanding the interactions of these new scenarios with the existing infrastructures and networks
- Identifying potential for further extension and upgrade of district heating and cooling networks
- Evaluating the benefits in terms of energetic, economic and environmental gains.
The project team included a wide range of research institutes, universities, companies and international organisations from 8 EU countries. Three cities were also part of the team and supported the consortium in the design and validation of the PLANHEAT integrated tool, making up an interesting mix of different climate conditions, availability of input data as well as representing different development stages in the planning and development of the next generation heating and cooling system.
