In the last week of June, representatives of the Vidzeme Planning Region (VPR) participated in the kick-off meeting of the Green4HEAT project in Komotini, Greece. This Interreg Europe project, involving nine partners from eight EU countries, focuses on implementing sustainable heating and cooling solutions across the European Union. The project will run from April 1, 2024, to June 30, 2028, with the main goal of accelerating the transition to more sustainable heating and cooling systems.
The Green4HEAT project will concentrate on several key tasks. The most significant of these will be the establishment of a regional working group, inviting VPR municipalities, their energy managers, capital companies, and heating supply companies to participate. The expertise and knowledge of these specialists will be crucial in assessing Vidzeme’s potential to transition to low-temperature heating networks and mapping the areas in Vidzeme with the greatest potential for transitioning to 4th and 5th generation heating. Moreover, the Green4HEAT project, together with the regional working group, will explore best practices for creating citizen initiatives to establish heating energy communities. Research will also be conducted on how to accelerate the implementation of sustainable technologies by adopting environmentally friendly business models in heating and cooling.
The Vidzeme Planning Region plays a significant role in the project. VPR will lead a thematic study on policy drivers for introducing circular economy concepts in heating and cooling. This study will help identify best practices and policy tools that promote the adoption of sustainable energy solutions. Additionally, VPR will organize an interregional seminar on low-temperature heating networks, bringing together experts from across Europe to share knowledge and experiences.
Baiba Šelkovska, project manager of the Vidzeme Planning Region, emphasizes: “The Vidzeme region has experience in studying low-temperature heating, working together with the Gulbene municipality and Riga Technical University in the project ‘LowTEMP.’ During that time, two pilot projects were implemented in Vidzeme – a much more efficient boiler house was built in Beļava village, capable of providing low-temperature district heating for renovated buildings. The second pilot project took place in Alūksne, where the existing heating system in a kindergarten was modernized to allow for a reduction in the heating medium’s temperature. The Green4HEAT project will allow us to further explore Vidzeme’s potential not only for transitioning to more sustainable heating but also for promoting the adoption of cooling solutions, which are becoming increasingly relevant during Latvian summers.”
The Green4HEAT project is closely aligned with the long-term development vision and goals of the Vidzeme Planning Region. The Vidzeme Planning Region’s Sustainable Development Strategy 2030 and Development Program 2027 emphasize the need to promote sustainable and efficient resource use and the transition to a low-carbon economy. The project results will be integrated into VPR’s regional development planning documents, ensuring that the knowledge gained and best practices are embedded in our policies and action plans in the long term.
The project “Accelerating the uptake of green heating and cooling solutions across EU territories” (Green4HEAT) is implemented within the Interreg Europe cross-border cooperation program from 2021 to 2027. Its goal is to support the efforts of participating regions to ensure the adoption of sustainable district heating and cooling solutions, focusing on the territory’s sustainable development, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and ensuring the integration of renewable energy sources. We invite you to follow the project activities on the VPR website at www.vidzeme.lv and on social media – Facebook and LinkedIn.
This publication has been prepared with the financial support of the European Union. Vidzeme Planning Region is fully responsible for its content, which cannot be used to reflect the views of the European Union.
