Webinar: Slovak perspectives on 100% Renewable Heating & Cooling transformation – RHC-ETIP

On 26 May 2025, the Roundtable on Slovak Perspectives on 100% Renewable Heating & Cooling Transformation brought together a dynamic mix of national and international stakeholders, experts, and innovators to explore Slovakia’s journey toward a fully renewable heating and cooling (H&C) sector.

Organized by the Renewable Heating and Cooling European Technology and Innovation Platform (RHC-ETIP) in collaboration with EUREC, and supported by consortium partners including EGEC, Solar Heat Europe (SHE), Euroheat & Power (EHP), European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), and WIP Renewable Energies, the event served as a forum for dialogue and knowledge exchange.

The roundtable featured a series of engaging presentations and discussions that addressed:

• The current state and future potential of renewable H&C in Slovakia.
• Policy frameworks and financial mechanisms needed to accelerate the transition.
• Technological deployment in district heating, geothermal, biomass and heat pump systems.
• The role of local authorities, utilities, and citizens in driving change.

Stakeholders shared real-world case studies, identified barriers to deployment, and proposed actionable solutions tailored to Slovakia’s unique energy landscape.

Key Takeaways

• Decarbonizing district heating is a top priority, with strong interest in integrating sources such as geothermal, waste heat, biomass and heat pumps. The city of Partizánske is a notable example of a pioneering effort by individual municipalities to decarbonize their heating networks.
• Electrification of residential and industrial heating and cooling is constrained by a high electricity-to-gas ratio, which stood at 3:1 in 2024 for both households and non-households.
• Heat pumps saw strong initial deployment in 2022, but sales have since declined, mirroring trends across other European countries. Stable policies and end-user financial support are essential for continued heat pump deployment.
• Municipalities below 50,000 inhabitants must develop heating and cooling plans, with NGOs able to assist – e.g., through a ten-point checklist for sustainable heating and cooling plans

You can watch the recording of the webinar here, and access the presentations here.

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