Mission

Renewable energy technologies for heating and cooling are safe, clean, efficient and increasingly cost-competitive. The European Technology Platform on Renewable Heating and Cooling, officially endorsed by the European Commission since October 2008, aims at playing a decisive role in maximising synergies and strengthening efforts towards research, development and technological innovation which will consolidate Europe’s leading position in the sector. As a result, the whole society will benefit from the increasing contribution of renewable heating and cooling to the European Union’s 20/20/20 targets by 2020.

The RHC-Platform directs its efforts toward the coordination of European, national, regional and local research, development and deployment programmes and initiatives in the renewable heating and cooling sector. The main objectives of the RHC-Platform are:

Defining the overall common Vision for the short-, medium- and long-term evolution of renewable energy systems for heating and cooling in Europe. This crucial document presents the expected market penetration and technological evolution by 2020 and beyond.
Setting up the shared Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) which analyses both technological research and strategic priorities to maintain Europe’s scientific and industrial leadership in the renewable heating and cooling sector.
Establish and implement a roadmap for the large scale development and deployment of renewable heating and cooling systems, including as well actions to harmonise Europe’s training and education, whilst renewing its research infrastructures.

The RHC-Platform acts as a catalyst for establishing effective public-private partnerships and provides a qualified interface between the EU and Member States for coherent research policy development and consistent programme planning and implementation. It will also help to develop awareness of the role of renewable energy technologies in Europe’s low carbon energy mix and foster co-operation, both within the EU and at global scale.