DISCO

Europe’s industries are powered by big quantities of energy: fuel, heat, steam and electricity. Heat is a common byproduct, usually dissipated into the atmosphere in large amounts.
Capturing this for re-use would reduce energy bills and slow climate change. How to do this? The technical challenge is small compared with the reluctance of policymakers, companies and communities.
The EU’s Renewable Energy Directive sets the context and public authorities play a key role because they are responsible for the related energy policy regulations. However, they are not well equipped and organised and need to join forces to learn from each other and elaborate innovative responses together.
Increasing complexity of the energy system (together with technological uncertainties) requires a high level of knowledge and skills to act wisely. The DISCO partnership will explore how European public authorities can take the lead on this.
DISCO will test and develop energy efficiency policies & solutions to decarbonise heating and cooling for buildings in 10 European regions. Partners will exchange experiences on district heating and cooling using residual energy by 2029.
The project includes 6 public authorities and 4 Energy Agencies, from all 5 IE zones; they will exchange good practices and improve their policy instruments focusing on the following themes:
* technical considerations (ie infrastructure analysis applied solutions & technologies, data analysis, waste heat utilization methods; planning & design)
* economic potential (ie costs and benefits of using waste heat)
* regulatory requirements (and assessment)
* stakeholder cooperation & capacity building (ie how to build partnerships between public sector, industries and citizens through diverse types of engagement and how to increase knowledge to lead the process in defining and implementing relevant policies and strategies).