On Wednesday, February 12th, the first online workshop of the Alpine Space project ALPHA took place.
The meeting focused on sharing European best practices in district heating and cooling. Project partners presented concrete examples and experiences, alongside contributions from various stakeholders.
In addition to case studies, discussions centered on the administrative and political challenges of adopting fifth-generation systems -key solutions for reducing pollution and combating climate change in the Alpine region.
From Lombardy to Austria, from Genoa to other Alpine Space countries, different models were analyzed, all linked by a common theme: achieving long-term energy sustainability requires new public-private synergies, as well as expanding networks and customer bases.
The workshop also explored policy challenges, innovative financing models, and strategies for stakeholder engagement. Participants discussed the need for binding regulations to phase out fossil fuels and to overcome obstacles in financing processes.
Finally, the importance of community involvement and effective marketing strategies was emphasized to promote the adoption of new heating systems and encourage participation in district heating initiatives.
