Европеяне модернизируют системы централизованного отопления для снижения выбросов и повышения энергоэффективности

What you need to know District heating systems produce heat in a central location and distribute it through insulated pipes to buildings. Many were built decades ago and depend on fossil fuels. Old networks cause heat loss, unreliable supply and high costs for households. Cities across Europe are modernising these systems to improve energy efficiency, cut emissions and strengthen energy security. Since 2007, EIB Advisory has been working with EU countries on this transition. Why this matters Heating is one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonise. But modern district heating is one of the best ways to cut emissions while keeping heating affordable. A number that tells the story Heating and cooling in the EU accounts for almost half of energy demand. Modern heating at a turning point In the Slovenian towns of Velenje and Šoštanj, thousands of residents rely on heat from a nearby coal-fired power plant. But ageing infrastructure means so me of that heat never reaches homes. Adnan Glotić understands the challenge. After 15 years working in Slovenia’s energy sector, he recently joined Komunalno podjetje Velenje (KPV), the company operating the district heating distribution system in the Šaleška Valley. But he is also a resident and a household customer, experiencing firsthand how the transition affects end users. “I am basically dependent on the heat that comes from the coal power plant right now,” he says. Glotić lives in a Velenje apartment building that dates to 1959. Typically for the town, it hasn't had an energy renovation. The scale of the resulting losses is remarkable. "If we buy 300 units of heat, we sell only 200. Around one-third is lost in the distribution system,” he explains. The transformation of the Šaleška Valley District Heating System is a long-term transition programme aimed at modernising Slovenia’s second-largest district heating network. That's why the European Commission and EIB Advisory are providing support to: - renovate critical sections of the network and heat transfer stations - improve the energy efficiency of buildings - replace coal-fired heat with cleaner, renewable sources. The advisory work started in 2022 and is expected to conclude in 2026, Through the JASPERS and TARGET facilities, which offer free assistance to national, regional and local authorities to improve the quality of their projects, EIB Advisory has helped improve project documentation, prepare investments and provide technical expertise, as local authorities plan the system's long-term transition from coal. Critical sections of the network and heat transfer stations are being modernised, which is expected to reduce losses and cut around 6 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year from this measure alone. What the EIB does in district heating Modernising district heating requires significant investment. The European Investment Bank provides loans and advisory support to help cities and regions make their heating systems cleaner and more efficient. Over the past two years, the Bank has approved financing worth well over € 2 billion to help modernise district heating from France and Germany to Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine. EIB Advisory also supports district heating projects in at least 10 countries, helping strengthen energy security and reduce emissions. Expert insight Sarunas Bruzge is a senior economist at the European Investment Bank. Based in Warsaw, he works on advisory support for major energy infrastructure projects, including power transmission, district heating, renewable energy and energy efficiency. Q: What is changing in the heating sector? A: The district heating sector is gradually decarbonising in line with EU policy goals for 2050. This requires major investment based on renewable energy and waste heat. This transition takes place in a challenging context. Demand is falling due to demographic changes, climate change and improved energy efficiency in buildings, while heat must remain affordable. Q: How can a city improve its district heating system? A: Most cities already have district heating systems in place, but these are often inefficient and polluting. They are rethinking how heat could be produced and delivered while cutting fossil dependence. The approach is gradual: first improve energy efficiency, then introduce cleaner sources such as renewable energy and waste heat. Each city needs its own solution adapted to its infrastructure, climate and local resources. The key is to ensure reliable and affordable heating while reducing emissions over time. Key trends - Efficiency upgrades of existing networks - Integration of renewable energy and waste heat - Thermal energy storage - Use of power-to-heat technologies - Integration of heat and electricity systems - Development of district cooling - Lower supply temperatures in modern systems - Increased local energy production to reduce external dependence What to watch for next According to Aalborg University, more than €1.16 trillion should be invested in district heating infrastructure by 2050. - New urban sources such as industrial waste heat recovery (for instance, from data centres and metro stations) or thermal energy from wastewater - Long-term thermal energy storage bridging seasonal supply and demand - Systems will increasingly provide district cooling in summer. Heat for one of Europe's coldest regions In Norbotten County, in Sweden's Arctic north, reliable district heating is more than a matter of comfort. Winter temperatures remain well below freezing for months, making heating critical for homes, schools and public services. The region decarbonised its heating sector earlier than much of Europe. From the 1980s onwards, municipalities replaced oil-fired boilers with district heating systems fuelled mainly by forest biomass. “We almost eliminated fossil greenhouse-gas emissions from that sector, which helped Sweden become a leader in reducing emissions,” says Isabella Katsimenis, senior international project developer at the North Sweden Energy Agency. Today, growing demand for biomass from other sectors and new European regulations are increasing pressure on that resource. Through the TARGET facility, EIB Advisory is helping local authorities identify new sources of clean heat, including lakes, rivers, geothermal energy and industrial waste. The study aims to strengthen energy security and create a more resilient energy mix. “There is so much heat across Europe that is being wasted,” Katsimenis says. “We need to help municipalities and decision-makers understand what heat is available and how they can recover it before it’s too late.” The project is designed to help municipalities in northern Sweden diversify their heat supply and provide a model that can be replicated elsewhere. What people get wrong about district heating Myth: District heating is outdated. Fact: Modern systems can integrate renewable energy, waste heat, large heat pumps and storage. Myth: District heating only works in very cold countries. Fact: Performance depends mainly on urban density and system design, not climate. Myth: Decarbonisation is only about changing the energy source. Fact: System efficiency is equally important, including insulated pipes, low temperatures, good hydraulics, low water losses and effective control systems. 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