When it comes to the share of renewable energy within a country’s heating sector, the region of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is by no means homogenous. In fact, it includes both markets with elaborate promotion schemes and substantial shares of renewables in the heating system as well as those markets which feature only moderate or very little of such capacity. Many of the latter markets, however, still have enormous renewable potential and tapping it would involve only limited resource efforts. For more information on the issue, please consult this publication.

This workshop, held alongside of the COP23 climate conference in Bonn, seeks to establish a platform for the exchange of information within the region. Collaboratively, decision makers from governments, market regulators and businesses being active in selected UNECE countries shall identify both challenges and barriers to the deployment of renewable energy sources in the heating sector and possible solutions for addressing these.

Most notably, the one-day event features two modules that are meant to create room for exchange: In a first step, participants will have the opportunity to present, discuss and critically assess the current market situation for renewable heat in their countries. Moreover, a multi-peer discussion process shall enable the representatives to address difficulties, share experience and outline adequate solutions with regards to the development of a renewable heat market. This event is organized by the German Energy Agency (dena) in close cooperation with the UNECE Group of Experts on Renewable Energy (GERE) and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.