The heating and cooling sector is an important contributor to air pollution, with various factors influencing the trends observed in pollutant emissions. A comprehensive understanding of these factors is crucial for developing effective strategies to mitigate the environmental impact of the sector.\nThe transition from conventional to cleaner technologies in the heating and cooling sector in the EU-27 offers many compelling benefits, such as significantly reducing air pollution levels and energy demand. This transition can not only improve air quality and public health but also contribute to mitigating climate change and preserving ecosystems.\nDecreasing heating and cooling demand is crucial in facilitating the transition to a low-carbon future. While reducing demand though energy efficiency initiatives is important, this alone is insufficient to achieve carbon neutrality. A comprehensive strategy for the decarbonisation of the heating and cooling sector is essential, involving the implementation of a low-carbon energy mix, heating and cooling technologies that are energy efficient and the use of clean energy carriers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.\nIn this context, we provide insights into trends in energy indicators and air pollutant emissions and technological shifts towards cleaner options. We also assess the availability of information for projecting the levels of air pollutant emissions in the heating and cooling sector by 2030. By examining the factors shaping these trends, we aim to underscore the importance of reducing air pollution emissions related to the sector.
Authors
BANJA Manjola, CARLSSON Johan, ROCA REINA Juan Carlos, TOLEIKYTE Agne, MONFORTI-FERRARIO Fabio, CRIPPA Monica, PISONI Enrico
Related Organizations
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.2760/0456379 https://doi.org/10.2760/2166850
- ISBN
- 978-92-68-20679-9 (online),978-92-68-20680-5 (print)
- ISSN
- 1831-9424 (online),1018-5593 (print)
- Other identifiers
- EUR 40034,OP KJ-01-24-030-EN-N (online),OP KJ-01-24-030-EN-C (print)
- Pages
- 65
- Published in
- Belgium
- Rights Holder
- https://ec.europa.eu/info/legal-notice_en#copyright-notice
Table of Contents
- Contents 3
- Abstract 4
- Acknowledgements 5
- Executive summary 6
- 1. Introduction 10
- 2. Overview of current and emerging technologies in the heating and cooling 12
- 2.1. Fossil fuel combustion systems 12
- 2.2. Renewable energy systems 14
- 2.3. Electricity-based systems 18
- 2.4. District heating and cooling systems 20
- 3. Outlook on energy indicators in the heating and cooling sector in the EU- 22
- 4. Air pollution trends in the heating and cooling sector in the EU-27 27
- 5. Technological landscape of the residential sector in the EU-27 and its 32
- 6. Discussions on what influences trends in air pollutant emissions in the 36
- 7. Forward look to 2030 based on NECPs and European Commission 42
- 8. Conclusions 51
- References 53
- List of abbreviations and definitions 57
- List of boxes 58
- List of figures 59
- List of tables 61
- Annexes 62
- Annex 1. Contribution of fuels to air pollutant emissions in the EU-27 heat-related sectors 62
- Annex 2. Reporting on air pollutant projections and their impact on policy in NECPs 63
- Getting in touch with the EU 64
- Finding information about the EU 64
- The Joint Research Centre JRC provides independent evidence-based knowledge and science supporting EU policies to positively impact society 65
