The European Technology and Innovation Platform on Renewable Heating and Cooling (RHC-ETIP) held its annual conference – 100% RHC, on October 15^th, with 160 attendees joining the online event and 16 speakers building the sessions.

The highlight of the online event was the official launch of the latest RHC ETIP’s publication ‘Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for Climate-neutral Heating and Cooling in Europe’, the agenda was moderated by Marisol Oropeza, Business and Marketing Strategist at matters.mx, and was closed by the keynote speech of the Chair of RHC ETIP, Javier Urchueguía.

Here is a brief overview of the half-day conference:

1. RHC ETIP & Clean Energy Transition SRIA’s

An interview led by Marta San Román (Orkli), with Michael Hübner, coordinator of the Joint Programming Platform Smart Energy Systems, and Javier Urchueguía. The focus was put on both synergies and differences between the RHC ETIP Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda and the Clean Energy Partnership Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.

2. Innovative Technology Developments

A panel discussion moderated by Reghina Dimitrisina (EGEC), on innovative technology developments for a 100% renewable heating and cooling sector. Representatives from the Horizontal Working Groups of the RHC ETIP (on cities, buildings, industries, and industries) shared their views on the main developments and research and innovation need to make possible a future based on 100% renewable heating and cooling solutions.

3. The Lithuanian Perspective

A national roundtable – ‘The Lithuanian perspective’ –  moderated by Eglé Randyté (VšĮ Atnaujinki-me miestą), with Darius Biekša (Lithuanian Energy Agency), Indre Buteniene (City of Klaipeda), Liudas Getautas (Lithuanian Heat Pump Association), Valdas Lukoševičius (Lithuanian District Heating Association) as guests. The conversation brought on the table both challenges and opportunities in the renewable heating and cooling sector in Lithuania.

As previously mentioned, the closing remarks were addressed by Javier Urchueguía, and he expressed that policymakers require long-term planning to satisfy citizens’ needs. He also pointed out that we need renewable heating and cooling technologies to come up into the broad picture in Europe. The ‘Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for Climate-neutral Heating and Cooling in Europe’ and RHC ETIP’s strategic documents are the contributions from the platform to help policymakers to answer citizens’ needs.