How Can Croatia Accelerate the Decarbonisation of Heating and Cooling?
The Roundtable on Croatian Perspectives on the Renewable Heating and Cooling Market successfully brought together national stakeholders to explore pathways for achieving 100% renewable heating and cooling. Held on 11 February 2025, the event was organised by the RHC-ETIP platform in collaboration with EGEC, and supported by consortium partners EUREC, SHE, EHP, EHPA, and WIP.
You can find the video recording here.
Setting the Stage for a Renewable Future
Moderated by Giulia Cittadini, Policy Advisor at EGEC, the roundtable provided a platform for in-depth discussions on the unique challenges and opportunities in Croatia’s heating and cooling sector. With a focus on the country’s climate, social, and market conditions, experts shared insights into key technologies and strategies needed to transition to a sustainable and resilient energy future. Leonie Kuhlman, Policy Assistant at EGEC, introduced the RHC-ETIP platform, outlining its goals, the project database, and the accelerator platform.
EU Policy and Croatia’s Decarbonisation Goals
The keynote address was delivered by Matthieu Ballu, Policy Officer for Renewable Energy and Energy System Integration at DG ENERGY (European Commission). He provided a deep dive into EU policies for decarbonising heating and cooling, highlighting necessary actions and upcoming initiatives under the new European Commission.
Insights from the Croatian Energy Sector
A key segment of the roundtable focused on Croatia’s specific efforts to decarbonise its district heating sector. Ivan Pržulj, Expert Advisor at North-West Croatia Regional Energy-Climate Agency (REGEA), presented the D2HEAT project, detailing concrete measures and real-world applications that are helping transition the sector towards renewable sources.
Exploring Key Renewable Technologies
The discussion then shifted towards the market status of key renewable heating and cooling technologies in Croatia:
- Geothermal Energy – Martina Tuschl, Director of Geothermal Energy Sector at the Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency, provided insights into the country's geothermal potential and ongoing projects.
- Heat Pumps – Luka Boban, Assistant Professor at the University of Zagreb, discussed the role of heat pumps in transitioning Croatia’s heating and cooling sector.
- Waste Heat Utilization – Josip Miškić, Project Assistant at the University of Zagreb, examined the role of urban waste heat in district heating decarbonisation.
The Biggest Challenge? Funding.
While technology and innovation continue to progress, securing adequate funding remains the biggest challenge. Stakeholders emphasised the importance of financial support mechanisms and policy incentives to accelerate deployment. As the sector advances, all eyes are now on the European Commission’s next steps in the new mandate to drive investments and ensure a sustainable, decarbonised heating and cooling market in Croatia.
